Life sentence for husband who murdered wife he married twice

Kilmarnock man ordered to serve at least 14 years for 'cowardly and brutal' killing.

09 June 2010 11:58 GMT

A man has been jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow for murdering the wife he had married for the second time.

George Clark,53, was ordered to spend at least 14 years for what temporary judge Michael O'Grady QC described as the "cowardly and brutal" murder of his wife Sharlene.

The court was told that Clark married his victim Sharlene for a second time and moved with her into the home he shared with his second wife Helen Clark, 58 who he had divorced.

The couple who were first married 27 years earlier fell in love again after meeting by chance when they both returned home to Kilmarnock. Within seven months they had married for a second time on the anniversary of their first wedding. Their relationship was a volatile one, with Clark jealous of Sharlene's friendship with former her love, while she feared Clark was going to return to his second wife.

Clark murdered Sharlene, 44, by stabbing her three times on the chest and once on the neck a day after sending a chilling text message saying he was going to kill her.

As she lay dying, Clark dialled 999 and told an operator: "I've just stabbed my wife. Would you please get an ambulance. She's not breathing, hurry up." When paramedics arrived on the scene they found Clark with both hands covered in blood and Sharlene lying dead on the living room floor.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Clark told a social worker that she had it coming to her saying: "I would have done it sooner or later."

Clark claimed that he had killed Sharlene in self-defence after she had launched a murderous attack on him with a kitchen knife. He admitted picking up a hunting knife and stabbing her, but claimed he was fighting for his life. However, the jury didn't believe his story and convicted him of murdering Sharlene.

Helen Clark ne handed a letter to the judge through Clark's lawyer, who said: "She is still very supportive of him and she hopes they will be back together at some point." The QC added: "After Mr Clark stabbed his wife he made strenuous efforts to save her and to reverse what he had done

Judge O'Grady told Clark: "You have taken the life of your own wife. A woman who had a lot to live for."

From: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/181856-life-sentence-for-husband-who-murdered-wife-he-married-twice/