Wakefield woman who stabbed husband to death jailed for life

Lisa Ellwood was found guilty of murdering her husband after a trial

A woman who fatally stabbed her husband during a drunken row has been jailed for life.

Lisa Ellwood, 40, attacked 42-year-old Ryan Ellwood at their home near Wakefield in August 2022 after they returned from a night out.

Ellwood, who was convicted of murder after a trial, was told she must serve a minimum term of 16 years.

Passing sentence, Judge Guy Kearl KC said her "senseless act of violence cost Ryan Ellwood his life".

Leeds Crown Court heard the couple had been out drinking on the night of the murder before returning to their home in Greenwood Court, Agbrigg, separately after an argument.

During a confrontation in the kitchen, Ellwood took a kitchen knife from a drawer and "plunged" it into her husband's chest, prosecuting barrister Craig Grattage said.

Ryan Ellwood died after being stabbed with a kitchen knife

Defence barrister Michelle Colborne KC said the pair had been in a "toxic relationship" with a history of violence towards each other.

She said her client was of "good character" and had several mental health conditions, including an alcohol abuse disorder.

She said she had "no memory whatsoever" of the incident, which doctors said "in the absence of alcohol would likely not have been committed".

Judge Kearl said while Ellwood's mental health conditions "have an effect in lowering your culpability" they were "not sufficient to provide you with a defence".

Alcohol had been "the main driver" in the murder "by some margin", he said, adding that while he accepted the attack was premeditated he was "not sure the intention was to kill".

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Mr Ellwood's sister said: "We all know that the relationship would not end well as it was not a happy, healthy one. But we had no idea it would end in Ryan's murder."

Ellwood showed no emotion as she was taken down to the cells with friends and family of her late husband watching on from the gallery.