Durham postman who stabbed wife 68 times in 'jealous rage' jailed

Harry Turner used two knives to repeatedly stab his victim while she was in her daughter’s home before placing his wedding ring in front of her face as a final reminder of why he did it.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 50-year-old was found in a pool of blood after she failed to pick up her beloved granddaughter from school in June 2022.

The Judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, branded the 55-year-old postman a self-pitying man as she sentenced Turner to life imprisonment for the murder of the mother-of-four.

Sally Turner

Turner was convicted of murder following a retrial after the Court of Appeal quashed his original conviction from February last year when a jury found him guilty of murder.

The court heard how Mrs Turner had begun a relationship with a taxi driver, who took her disabled granddaughter to school, following the breakdown of their relationship.

The judge said: “Just as you were expressing your fond feelings for her, she had received a sexually explicit text message from the taxi driver.

“I’m sure that when you were back at Cuthbert Avenue, you either saw that or for some reason showed that message to you or you otherwise became aware she was enjoying a sexual relationship with the taxi driver.

“This was the impetus for your murderous attack.”

Police at the scene of the murder on Cuthbert Avenue, Durham, where Sally Turner's body was discovered.

Mrs Turner suffered 78 wounds, including defence injuries, from at least 68 knife blows with the deepest being 11cm deep and one was so powerful that it broke her shoulder blade while another broke one of her ribs.

Mrs Justice Lambert told Turner that she rejected his claim that he had been triggered by Sally whispering in his ear that he would ‘never see the girls again’ during a friendly meet up at her daughter’s home on Cuthbert Avenue, Durham.

She added: “You murdered Sally in a fit of jealous rage rounding off the attack by the careful placing of your wedding ring in front of Sally so that it might have been the very last thing that she saw.

“You were making your point to her that you were in control and the relationship was ending on your own terrible terms.

“You were, to use your own words, rubbing it in.”

Harry Turner (Image: Durham Constabulary)

The jury had heard how Sally suffered fractured bones due to the force of the blows delivered by Turner as he repeatedly stabbed her to death.

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Describing Turner as self-pitying, the judge added: “You evidence was characterised by overwhelming self-pity, you portrayed yourself as a pathetic victim. A victim of Sally’s decision to end your marriage, a victim of her decision to have a relationship with someone else.

“Even at times, as a victim of your own rage over which you claimed to be powerless.

“In fact, just the contrary was true, you were controlling of Sally.”

Turner, of Tiree Close, Brandon, was told he would serve a minimum term of 18 years starting from the date of his original conviction in February last year.