A mother was strangled to death by her husband in their family home because she intended to end their marriage, her devastated father has revealed.
A Fatal Decision to Leave
Paul Knight, aged 36, admitted to murdering his 32-year-old wife, the talented artist Isobella 'Izzy' Knight, at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, 10 January 2026. The killing took place on 13 June last year inside their semi-detached home in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, while the couple's two young daughters lay asleep in their beds.
Izzy's father, Tim Davies, 58, stated that his daughter had suffered her husband's controlling behaviour alongside verbal and psychological abuse for years. "She told him that she wanted to split, and they had come to an agreement on how to handle things for the benefit of the kids," Mr Davies said. "Izzy made it clear that she'd had enough."
A Family's Shocking Discovery of Hidden Abuse
The full extent of the domestic abuse Izzy endured was only uncovered by her relatives after her death. Mr Davies confessed to the Daily Mail that she had kept her troubles secret, a fact he finds difficult to accept. Her sister, Georgia, echoed this sentiment, revealing Izzy never spoke of the abuse to protect her family.
"We only found out the truth about her marriage afterwards and it was a huge shock," Georgia said. "Izzy was my best friend, we spoke every day, but she never told me anything about the abusive behaviour she was suffering."
Botched Suicide and a Grisly Discovery
The court heard how, the morning after the murder, Knight asked his mother to care for his children, falsely claiming both he and Izzy were unwell. After they were collected, he made several unsuccessful attempts to take his own life before crashing his car in a nearby McDonald's car park.
Police officers responding to the collision grew suspicious of Knight's odd behaviour and subsequently searched the family home. There, they discovered Izzy's body. A post-mortem examination concluded she died from pressure applied to her neck, with the attack described as an act of violent rage.
A Legal Battle for the Children's Future
The couple's daughters, now aged six and three, are in the care of Izzy's mother, Helena, and her partner, David. However, the family fears a legal fight to prevent Knight from retaining any influence over decisions regarding the children's lives.
This concern highlights the delayed implementation of Jade's Law—legislation passed in April 2024 that would automatically remove parental responsibility from a parent convicted of killing their partner. The law is stalled due to a conflict between family courts and the Ministry of Justice.
"If Jade's law was operating we would not have this concern," Mr Davies said. "I may potentially have to pay for legal advice to get him exempted and that's not right."
Knight has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on 29 January.
Paying a moving tribute, Izzy's mother Helena said: "I want everyone to know that Izzy was so much more than a victim. She was a loving mother, a treasured daughter, a best friend in sister form, a talented artist, and a great friend... She will never ever be forgotten."
Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit stated: "This is a tragic case of violence against a woman who had everything to live for... He has left two daughters without a mother and there is no sentence that could ever make up for that."
