Stockland Green murderer jailed for life
Mark Masefield, aged 53, fatally stabbed his former partner, Marie Gladders, at the property in George Road on the evening of 12 November last year.
Michael Masefield has been jailed for life for murdering his former partner
Marie, from Chelmsley Wood, had known Masefield since their school days and they had previously been in a relationship.
On the evening she died, 51-year-old Marie visited Masefield’s home and he attacked her with a kitchen knife.
Masefield then called 999 and admitted he’d stabbed Marie.
Officers attended and arrested Masefield. They also seized a large kitchen knife found on the floor at the house.
A post mortem examination revealed Marie had been stabbed four times.
Masefield, who had admitted murder at a hearing earlier this month, was today sentenced to life and will not be eligible to apply for parole for 20 years.
In a victim impact statement, Marie’s daughter, speaking on behalf of her family, said: "My mother was the kindest most caring person, who would do anything for anyone.
"She made such an impact on so many people’s lives. She had a heart of gold."
The statement presented to the court before sentencing added: "There are no words that can really explain the complete horror and suffering that our family have endured and will continue to feel for every minute of every day for the rest of our lives."
Detective Inspector Stuart Mobberley, from our homicide unit, said: "We know Masefield has a long history of violence which tragically erupted again during Marie’s visit to his home that evening.
"We cannot be sure what triggered Masefield’s brutality but his actions have robbed a family of a daughter, sister, mother and grandmother.
"Today and throughout this investigation our thoughts have remained with Marie’s devastated loved ones and we hope that they can now take some solace in knowing Masefield has been brought to justice."
Hear all the latest news from across the West Midlands on the hour, every hour, on 103.1 and 97.2FM (Wolverhampton, Black Country and Shropshire), 96.4FM (Birmingham), 97 and 102.9FM (Coventry and Warwickshire), 97.6FM, 102.8FM and 96.7FM (Herefordshire and Worcestershire), DAB, at freeradio.co.uk, and on the Free Radio app.