Postman jailed in wife murder retrial

Sally Turner told her husband she was looking forward to their future together shortly before he killed her

A postman whose conviction for murdering his wife was initially overturned has been jailed for life following a retrial.

Harry Turner stabbed Sally Turner 68 times because he was jealous of her relationship with another man.

A retrial was ordered after the Court of Appeal quashed his original conviction, which was handed down last February.

On Friday, Mrs Justice Lambert at Newcastle Crown Court jailed him for a minimum of 18 years for murder.

The judge told him: "The reason why you murdered Sally was because you were jealous of her relationship with another man."

Turner killed his wife in June 2022, shortly after she told him she was committed to him and looking forward to their future together.

He used two knives to attack her after discovering the 50-year-old was still in contact with a taxi driver she had been in a relationship with.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said Turner's discovery of a message to his spouse from the other man had been the likely "trigger" for him to stab her to death.

'Such a cruel manner'

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Turner's daughter Ronnie Beamish said her mother had been her "rock".

Ms Beamish, who discovered Mrs Turner's body, said: "When my mum was taken away from us very suddenly in such a cruel manner I can't put into words the devastating effect it has had and will continue to have.

"My mum was my rock. She was the person I expected to be around forever, to be there for me and give me support, love and friendship, to be my friend.

"Harry took all that away. The life I had is no more and will never be the same again.

"I look for my mum and she's not there, I speak to her but I can't hear her voice."

Wedding ring left

Mrs Turner was killed on 22 June 2022.

She visited a cafe with her husband before returning to Cuthbert Avenue in Durham, where Turner was staying.

"A little before 11am, Harry stabbed Sally to death," Mr Hassall told the court.

"A post-mortem examination of Sally's body revealed that her death had been caused by stab wounds to her face, neck and torso.

"No fewer than 78 wounds had been caused by at least 68 separate blows with a knife or knives."

The court was told Mrs Turner had been pursued through the house during the attack.

Mr Hassall said Turner, of no fixed abode, left his wedding ring on the floor beside her body.

Turner, 55, admitted manslaughter on the basis of loss of control, but denied murder.

At his retrial, jurors found him guilty after three hours deliberation.