Robert Alexander, 66, of Ascot Drive, Tamworth, was found guilty on June 24 of murdering his wife Christina Alexander, a 60-year-old nurse, following a trial at Stafford Crown Court. He stabbed her 78 times at their home in the early hours of June 23, 2025.
Chilling prediction captured on dashcam
Dashcam footage from Christina Alexander's car recorded her telling her sister: 'I'll probably be dead before then.' The comment referred to her plans to leave the relationship, which she had been actively pursuing since 2025, including seeking legal advice and making financial arrangements to live independently.
The couple met through online dating and married in 2019. From early in the relationship, Alexander exhibited controlling and violent behavior, fueled by an obsession with money, according to Birmingham Live.
History of violence and control
On September 13, 2020, police were called after Alexander put Christina in a chokehold. Upon arrest, his primary concern was whether she knew his bank card PIN numbers. He was subsequently convicted of battery. In June 2021, Christina informed police she lived under constant threat of violence. Despite being employed, she remained financially reliant on Alexander and feared homelessness if she left.
In the weeks before the murder, Alexander harmed himself on two occasions. Psychiatric experts later determined this was an attempt to manipulate or control Christina. Days after being released from hospital following the second incident, he murdered her.
Brutal attack and aftermath
A forensic pathologist found Christina had suffered at least 78 stab wounds, including injuries to her face, neck, torso, arms, and legs, as well as numerous cuts. After the attack, Alexander made a 999 call calmly stating he had killed his wife and mentioning money and control. He then changed his clothes, took out the bins, and stayed with his dogs. When police arrived, he again raised the subject of money and inheritance.
Alexander initially confessed to murder but later changed his story. At trial, he claimed Christina had grabbed a knife first and that he acted in self-defense. He also contended that depression and autism diminished his culpability. However, medical experts determined he suffered only mild depression and found no evidence of a mental abnormality.
Prosecution statement
Narmina Rafiq from the CPS said: 'This was a complex and challenging prosecution involving detailed psychiatric evidence and conflicting expert opinion about Robert Alexander's mental state. Alexander told different stories to different people and changed his version of events when it suited him. The jury carefully considered all of the evidence and rejected his claims of self-defence and diminished responsibility. We were able to demonstrate that his actions were driven by control - both over his wife and over money - and that his self-harm formed part of that pattern, rather than being the result of a serious mental disorder. Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Christina Alexander. She was a nurse who spent her life caring for others, and her loss is deeply felt. We hope this outcome provides some measure of justice for her family, particularly her siblings who supported the prosecution throughout. This case highlights how controlling and abusive behaviour can escalate and demonstrates that even where complex mental health evidence is considered, individuals will be held accountable where the evidence supports it.'
Alexander will be sentenced at a future date.
