Jealous Tipton murderer jailed for at least 20 years after stabbing partner 13 times

Mother-of-two Barbara Baraniecka was repeatedly stabbed during a horrifying half hour in which she frantically fought for her life.

The 43-year-old locked herself in the bedroom but the door was smashed off its hinges by knife-wielding Sobiewski, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

She was attacked on the bed and repeatedly stabbed but still managed to flee while bleeding heavily and locked herself in the bathroom of their home in Standbridge Way, Tipton, on November 12. But 40-year-old Sobiewski also battered that door down as the terrified victim knelt behind it.

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Once inside he resumed the ruthless knifing but blood stained footmarks showed that she managed to stagger to another bedroom and tried desperately to shut out her attacker.

She was forced back onto the bed where Sobiewski sat astride her to deliver the fatal blows.

She had 13 stab wounds and 40 slash wounds, many of which were to her hands and arms as she battled to protect herself, the court heard.

The most serious wounds were to the throat and neck where a main artery was severed.

Mr Christopher Hotten, prosecuting, said: "The attack was sustained, determined and merciless.

"There is no doubt from a large kitchen knife he used together with the location and severity of the wounds that he intended to kill her and make her suffer.

"The victim must have known for some considerable time that her life was at risk from the attack.

"One can only imagine her feelings as the doors were forced and she was further attacked.

"We will never know the precise circumstances in which the attack took place but it was founded on the breakdown of the relationship and fuelled by his possessiveness towards her."

A neighbour heard the words 'no, no, no' being cried out by a frightened voice along with the loud sound of repetitive thuds followed by screams and sobbing, the court heard.

He was about to go and investigate but wrongly assumed the problem had ended.

In fact, the victim had probably collapsed through loss of blood, continued Mr Hotten.

Sobiewski had moved from his home in America to live with the victim in 2010 after they met on the internet, but by the time of the attack she had wanted to end the relationship because of his heavy drinking.

He left the house with her murdered body still lying on the bed to go to a supermarket and buy four cans of Strongbow.

He then returned ten minutes later and waited for almost three hours – during which he accepted a parcel from the postman – until the victim's eldest daughter came home from work and found her mother's body.