Overview
- A Worcester Crown Court jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after a five-week retrial, following an earlier hung jury.
- Judge James Burbidge imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years and 247 days, crediting 483 days already served on remand and rejecting claims of remorse.
- Joanne Samak, 49, was stabbed six times at the Droitwich home; the fatal blow penetrated her breastbone into the heart and caused death within about 20 minutes.
- Police evidence showed Samak delayed calling 999 until around 4:10am, did not attempt CPR despite training, and hid bloodstained clothing later found in the loft during the second trial.
- Prosecutors cited financial problems and his interest in another woman as motives, while Joanne’s family delivered impact statements and West Mercia Police welcomed the sentence.