The devastated family of Eileen Barrott, who was murdered by her husband Mark, have paid tribute to her as they recounted the devastating impact her death had had on their lives in court.
Mark Barrott, 55, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 21 years today at Bradford Crown Court. His sentencing followed being found guilty in July of murdering wife Eileen, 50, last August.
As part of the sentencing, Eileen's parents and two children gave victim impact statements explaining the devastating impact of Eileen's murder on their lives. For Eileen's children Carita, 23, and Joel, 21, that has meant also dealing with their father murdering their mother.
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Joel found his mum unresponsive on August 15, 2021 at their home in Whinmoor. In his statement, he said of his mother, addressing his father: "She was a very selfless woman and would've done anything to keep her children happy. She was a very strong and brave woman and I hope that in my life I follow in her footsteps rather than yours."
He continued: "I will never get to speak to my mother again. All I have left is shattered memories and her graveside." He added that he has been struggling with PTSD since his mum's death.
"The very last memory I have of my mum is finding her dead and lifeless on the sofa. That image I saw replaces other memories," Joel said.
Barrott did not attend the sentencing after a suspected overdose, but statements were addressed to him despite his absence.
Carita said: "Not only had I lost my best friend, it was at your hands Dad. It was the betrayal and loss of a father at the exact same time."
She added: "It shattered any hope I had left for life. I felt completely hollow and plunged into a depression."
Carita paid tribute to Eileen, saying life had been stolen away from "someone who has so much soul and energy. So many things were left unseen and unfinished for my mum."
Eileen's parents Dinos Constantinou and Lita Hopkins also paid tribute to her, saying: "The loss to her family and friends can't fully be expressed in words."
Eileen's family grieved that she would never get to see her children married or have children of their own.
Lita said: "She loved helping - she helped with her half-sister when she was born. She wanted to be a nurse for a long time."
Eileen was a nurse, and her family and the judge said she had been highly regarded in her field. Her children also discussed Barrott's logn history of controlling behaviour.
Eileen had intended to leave Barrott last August before she was found dead. In an altercation, Barrott hit her with a hammer and strangled her, before fleeing to a monastery in Scotland before he was arrested.
During his trial at Leeds Crown Court, he said he had thought Eileen was being possessed by a demon. Barrott admitted manslaughter but denied murder during his trial, pleading diminished responsibility due to mental illness.
Judge Andrew Hatton presided over the sentencing. Barrott's mental health was considered as the only mitigating factor in his sentence - he suffers with depression and OCD.
In a family statement, released after sentencing to West Yorkshire Police, Eileen’s family said: “Eileen Barrott's parents (Dinos Constantinou and Lita Hopkins) and her children; Joel Barrott (21) and Carita Barrott (23), would like to thank the Jury for deliberating on their verdict and we are pleased that they found Mark Barrott (55), father of both Carita and Joel Barrott, ‘Guilty' for the murder on 15 August 2021, of his wife and our mother, Eileen Barrott (50).
“We thank West Yorkshire Police for their hard work to find Mark Barrott in a monastery in Elgin, north Scotland, where he hid using an alias of 'John Connelly' to escape justice for Eileen's murder. In particular, we thank our Police Liaison Officer for keeping us informed of all developments of the case in a timely manner and being very supportive throughout.
“We, Eileen's children and her parents, thank the court staff for ensuring the smooth running of the court and the Judge for showing a lot of consideration for all the people who attended.
Finally, we thank Eileen's friends and colleagues who gave us so much support throughout the period leading up to Mark Barrott's conviction. We thank all the witnesses for their courage to give evidence in court."
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