Man who stalked and murdered ex-partner in Bolton jailed for life
Obert Moyo, 46, fatally stabbed Perseverance Ncube in Little Hulton on 10th November 2023.
Last updated 30th Apr 2024
A man who stalked and violently murdered his ex-partner in front of her two young children in Bolton has been jailed for life.
Obert Moyo, 46, will spend at least 27 years behind bars after stabbing 35-year-old Perseverance Ncube, known to her friends as Percy, in November 2023. It followed a campaign of stalking and harassment by Moyo when Percy ended their four month relationship that summer.
Mr Moyo, who had a track record of stalking ex-partners and multiple previous convictions for violence against women, spent the weeks and months that followed their break-up circling Percy's home on Dukesgate Grove in Little Hulton, lingering outside the property at night.
In the early hours of 10th November, Obert Moyo let himself into the house, armed with a bag of weapons and a photograph of the two of them together.
The victim's children, aged just 10 and 12 at the time, woke to hear their mother's screams as she was strangled in bed. They leaped to her defence and managed to temporarily restrain the then 45-year-old which allowed their mum time to flee the house into the street.
Perseverance made a frantic 999 call as she fled, screaming for her children to run and seek help. CCTV then captured the moment she was stabbed with a meat skewer to the heart and a pathologist noted the severity of the force used to inflict a 12cm deep wound.
Moyo changed his plea to guilty yesterday, on what was due to be the first day of his trial for murder.
In a victim impact statement, Percy's son described the time since his mum passed as "a battle" filled with nightmares, flashbacks and panic attacks, and said he misses her every day with a burning pain. Her daughter's words were also read to the court; she told the defendant he's ruined her whole life and she hates him.
On sentencing Obert Moyo to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years, His Honour Judge Filed KC described this attack as calculated, wicked and brutal and said the impact on the victim's children is unimaginable.
In a tribute posted just after her death, Perseverance's family said:
"It is with immense pain that we say goodbye to Perseverance Ncube, also known as Percy to her loved ones.
"She was a loving and devoted mother who lived for her children, family, and friends. Percy was an active member of her church and had created a beautiful community for herself and her children, but she was cruelly taken from us due to domestic violence.
"Percy had just celebrated her 35th birthday in October, and her passing has left us with an immeasurable sense of loss. Our focus now is on supporting her children as they continue their journey without their mother.
"With love from Percy’s family."