A successful businessman who brutally stabbed his wife to death in their family home on Boxing Day has been handed a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years behind bars.
Paul Mosley, 46, attacked his 52-year-old wife Kelly in the kitchen of their £800,000 property in Helsby, Cheshire, while their two young children slept upstairs. The property developer repeatedly knifed his wife of 12 years in a sustained and violent assault.
Children Discover Horrific Scene
The court heard how the couple's children, aged just 10 and 12 at the time, made the devastating discovery of their mother's body after being woken by the disturbance. They found Kelly lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen of the family home.
Emergency services rushed to the property on Cunningham Drive shortly after 11pm on December 26, 2023, but despite their efforts, Kelly was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wealthy Lifestyle Concealed Marital Problems
Outwardly, the Mosleys appeared to be living the perfect life. Paul ran a successful property development business while Kelly worked as a recruitment consultant. They enjoyed luxury holidays and lived in an expensive detached home in an affluent Cheshire village.
However, Chester Crown Court heard that behind closed doors, their marriage had been deteriorating. Friends and family described increasing tensions between the couple in the months leading up to the tragedy.
Judge's Damning Sentencing Remarks
Sentencing Mosley, Judge Simon Berkson described the murder as "a brutal and sustained attack" that had robbed two children of their mother. He told the defendant: "You have shown no remorse for taking the life of the woman you promised to love and cherish."
The judge emphasized the profound impact on the couple's children, stating: "No sentence I can pass will bring their mother back or repair the damage you have done to their lives."
Family's Heartbreaking Victim Statement
In a moving statement read to the court, Kelly's family described her as "a devoted mother who lived for her children." They spoke of their ongoing trauma and the void left in their lives.
"Kelly was the heart of our family," the statement read. "Her death has left us broken. We cannot comprehend how the man she loved could do something so cruel."
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Oliver, who led the investigation, said: "This was a horrific domestic murder that has torn a family apart. Our thoughts remain with Kelly's loved ones, particularly her children who have shown incredible bravery throughout this ordeal."
