Husband jailed for murder of his pianist wife
A "controlling'' classical musician has been jailed for at least 17 years after he was convicted of murdering his world-renowned concert pianist wife.
A "controlling'' classical musician has been jailed for at least 17 years and 164 days after he was convicted of murdering his world-renowned concert pianist wife.
Norwegian national John Martin, 48, beat and strangled Natalia Strelchenko, 38, on their two year wedding anniversary at their home in Newton Heath, Manchester.
Jailing him at Manchester Crown Court for life, Mrs Justice Laura Cox told the defendant that it had been a brutal, sustained and unprovoked attack''.
Martin who has served a prison term in Norway for assaulting Ms Strelchenko on two previous occasions, must serve a minimum term of 17 years and 164 days before being released on licence.
The prosecution had claimed that double-bass player Martin had been jealous of his Russian-born wife's career taking off while his did not, and said he had felt like her servant'' because of her lack of household chores and financial contributions.
When police arrived at their home in Culcheth Lane on August 30 last year following the frenzied attack, Martin repeatedly said, kill me, kill me please, I have nothing to live for, I do not deserve to live'' which was caught on an officer's bodycam.
A friend, who had been staying at the couple's home, described how Martin flew at 4ft 11in Ms Strelchenko like an animal'', throwing himself and his wife down the stairs before repeatedly punching her body.
When the female guest pleaded with him to stop, Martin, a computer science and maths graduate who had worked for computer giant IBM, turned his head and said: I want to kill her.''
The pianist who was also known by the surname of Strelle was found with some 71 injuries, including 45 separate marks to her head and neck, having suffered repeated blows to the front of her face using severe force''.
Her central and left-sided facial bones were left free floating from the rest of her skull and her jawbone was snapped in half. Parts of her skull were left severely fractured.
Ms Strelchenko, who at the peak of her powers'' had performed in concerts with a full orchestra and had attended the prestigious St Petersburg State Conservatory in her homeland, died a short time later in hospital.
Mrs Justice Cox said that Martin had intended to kill the pianist in what she described as a prolonged and ferocious attack'':
On all the evidence I have heard I am satisfied that this attack occurred against a background of controlling and sometimes aggressive behaviour by you.
But the evidence shows that you came to resent her success and her friendships with those she met. I am satisfied on the evidence that you were jealous of her being the focus of attention and praise and of her meeting other people when she was working away from home.''