A grieving family has paid tribute to a mother stabbed 47 times by her abusive husband after a coroner ruled she was unlawfully killed. Neil Harman, 57, breached bail conditions to murder his wife Sharon Elaine Harman, 49, at their home during a "sustained attack" before taking his own life, an inquest heard.
Coroner Andrew Cox returned a conclusion of 'unlawful killing' after a pathologist told the inquest her fatal injuries could only have been inflicted by a third party. After the verdict, loved ones of the victim paid a moving tribute and described her as a "soul of sunshine" who had been "stolen from us in the most brutal way possible."
Mr Cox also outlined evidence from the two-day hearing, which heard the victim, known to family and friends as Elaine, had reported her husband for an assault two days before her death. Mr Harman was kept in custody overnight, but was released on bail the following day with the condition to stay away from her.
