A former soldier who stabbed his wife to death before boarding a train where he told a conductor he was an "evil, bad man" is now facing life behind bars.
Phillip Dafter stabbed 36-year-old Diana Dafter 17 times and with such force the blade snapped - before CCTV showed him venturing to an ASDA where he bought another knife to stab himself.
Dafter was found guilty of the "loving and hardworking" student nurse's murder on Wednesday after previously admitting only to manslaughter.
During the course of the trial, Northampton Crown court heard Dafter fled to London where he was seen telling staff he needed to speak to the police.
When the conductor asked "why" he replied, "because I am evil and a bad man".
A WhatsApp message sent by Dafter after the horrendous crime coldly told a friend: "Boys and D. Going to jail. I have killed Diana Dafter today."
Dafter, 33, was arrested at London Euston Station where he told British Transport Police officers what he had done and was taken to hospital.
Police deployed to the couple's flat in Northampton found Diana's body, with a post-mortem exam finding she had been stabbed five times before dying from a fatal blow to her heart.
Dafter gave conflicting reasons for why he stabbed Diana which included a row over a car MOT to hearing "voices in his head" which told him to "end it".
But a jury failed to believe his excuses, finding him guilty of murder.
His Honour Judge David Herbert KC told the defendant that his sentence is "likely" to be life imprisonment.
Dafter and Diana were both born in Malawi and, after finishing school in Africa, they moved to the UK, where they met and got married.
Dafter had spent some time in the British Army and, following his discharge, became a bus driver and then an HGV driver.
He also continued running a business in Malawi and enrolling on a business course at the University of Northampton.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury of Northamptonshire Police said: “I am really pleased that Phillip Dafter has been found guilty of murder today and that the jury did not accept his plea of manslaughter.
“This was an extremely violent and prolonged attack that could not have come about without a very real intention to cause Diana serious harm.
“It is important to remember Diana Dafter for who she was. And that is so much more than just Phillip Dafter’s wife.
"She was a loving mother, daughter and friend. A student nurse with a real passion for care, hardworking, and someone very easy to get along with.
“Though today’s verdict will be a small comfort to her family and those who loved her, I hope it will help to know that Phillip Dafter is now facing an exceptionally long stretch in prison for what he has done.
“Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Northamptonshire Police for their work on this investigation as well as our colleagues at the British Transport Police for their assistance.
"Together we have secured justice for Diana and put Phillip Dafter where he belongs - behind bars.”
Vinit Kotecha from the CPS said: "Dafter’s intent was clear to see in his actions – the violence of his attack and his movements after the killing.
“Throughout the piecing together of the evidence in this case and the efforts we have made to bring Philip Dafter to justice, the thing that is abundantly clear is the impact of this tragedy on the rest of their family.
"Their children must now grow up without their mother and the knowledge of how she died."
Two women are killed every week in the UK by a current or former partner. For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
