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16/10/2008
Life Sentence For Cannabis Murderer
A cannabis drug user who murdered his girlfriend after he became convinced she was involved in a plot to kill him has been jailed for life.
Mark Middlebrook, 27, attacked Stephanie Barton with a machete, kitchen knife and craft knife, having taken the drug which induced a paranoid attack, (a cannabis plant is pictured) before he tried to kill himself at his Boston, Lincolnshire home in December 2007.
He put a machete to the accountancy student's throat before stabbing her 15 times in the chest, hand and neck while she tried to defend herself.
Afterwards he sent a text message to his mother saying: "I'm sorry for everything, hopefully you will be better off without me. I love you and I love her."
The court heard Middlebrook - who denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming mental health problems – believed his 32-year-old girlfriend was "in cahoots" with a group of men out to kill him.
The jury was also told he had used cannabis heavily for ten years, but "stubbornly" persisted to use the drug, despite doctors' advice to stop.
Judge Michael Heath today said: "What happened to Stevie Barton at your hands was terrible.
"I heard yesterday the victim impact statement from her mother and I re-read it last night. It's a very moving document.
"Her family will never get over it, and in a different way and for different reasons, neither will yours."
Middlebrook was sentenced to life in prison, and must serve a minimum of 13 years before he is eligible for parole.
(JM)
Mark Middlebrook, 27, attacked Stephanie Barton with a machete, kitchen knife and craft knife, having taken the drug which induced a paranoid attack, (a cannabis plant is pictured) before he tried to kill himself at his Boston, Lincolnshire home in December 2007.
He put a machete to the accountancy student's throat before stabbing her 15 times in the chest, hand and neck while she tried to defend herself.
Afterwards he sent a text message to his mother saying: "I'm sorry for everything, hopefully you will be better off without me. I love you and I love her."
The court heard Middlebrook - who denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming mental health problems – believed his 32-year-old girlfriend was "in cahoots" with a group of men out to kill him.
The jury was also told he had used cannabis heavily for ten years, but "stubbornly" persisted to use the drug, despite doctors' advice to stop.
Judge Michael Heath today said: "What happened to Stevie Barton at your hands was terrible.
"I heard yesterday the victim impact statement from her mother and I re-read it last night. It's a very moving document.
"Her family will never get over it, and in a different way and for different reasons, neither will yours."
Middlebrook was sentenced to life in prison, and must serve a minimum of 13 years before he is eligible for parole.
(JM)
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