A man who stabbed his partner 29 times and left her locked in their house in a pool of blood has been jailed for life.
Steven Wood, 54, attacked his girlfriend of two years at their home in Gateshead in May last year – leaving her with extensive and life-changing injuries – when she said she was going out.
Martina Turner, who is also known as Tina, was found cowering in a cupboard by police after Wood confessed to his son he had done something “bad”.
During the phone call, Turner, 54, managed to whisper for help before Wood left the property, locked the doors and hid the key. The police then had to break down the door to access the property.
Wood was jailed at Newcastle crown court for life with a minimum term of 12 years on Friday, Northumbria police said.
After the sentencing for the attempted murder, Turner decided to share her story of domestic violence, wanting to tell others that there was no shame in seeking help, saying: “I am not a victim, I am a survivor.”
Turner said the pair had been together for two years and that she was besotted with him and planned to spend the rest of her life with him.
“I now have to live with the knowledge that the man I loved and tried to help, that I believed was a charming, empathic and in his words ‘a soulmate’ could turn into a monster and attack me,” she said. “As I begged for my life, as I told him we could talk about anything, he told me: ‘No, I have to finish you off because I am not going to prison for you.’”
She believed he manipulated her caring nature and that she ignored warning signs in their relationship. He once told her another partner had fallen down the stairs during an argument, but the police would later tell her he had in fact pushed her down the stairs with a pole.
Turner said she was determined to make sure other women heard about her experience so they could seek support. She said she now realised how miraculous it was that she survived her injuries. Wood had every opportunity to call for an ambulance but instead left her to die, she added.
During the trial, DI Louise Jenkins from Northumbria police said: “This was an absolutely horrendous attack with levels of violence no one should ever be subjected to. Tina is an absolutely remarkable woman and what she has survived is nothing short of miraculous. She has a long journey ahead of her, as she continues to heal physically, mentally and emotionally, and I’m sure this attack will stay with her the rest of her life.
“This is without a doubt one of the most appalling and shocking cases of domestic abuse I have come across. I hope our communities know that we do not tolerate this type of behaviour and that violence and abuse of any kind should never be condoned.”
