MURDERER Simon Downer began a life sentence this week for brutally killing his wife at their Tamworth home.

Downer (33) stabbed mum-of-one Tracey in the chest, piercing her heart.

He had denied killing the 40-year-old, concocting two stories to explain the attack.

When arrested, he told officers Tracey had accidently injured herself while cooking. But, at Birmingham Crown Court last Wednesday, Downer claimed Tracey had killed herself in a jealous rage.

Both were dismissed by jurors on Friday, who returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

The jury had heard vital evidence from Tracey's young daughter, who managed to disarm Downer before calling the police.

Passing a mandatory life sentence of at least 20 years, Judge Robert Juckes QC said the killing was aggravated by Downer's conviction for stabbing a previous partner and the fact it was witnessed by the eight-year-old, who cannot be named.

The judge praised the youngster for giving 'powerful and clear' eyewitness evidence.

Following the trial Tracey's mother said: "Justice has been done. It won't bring our daughter back to us, but could hopefully save another family going through what we have since last June."

● Further coverage: see page 17.

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