Wolverhampton hot iron murderer locked up for minimum 17 years
A murderer who burned his victim with an iron after he stabbed him so hard he broke the blade will spend at least 17 years behind bars.
Simon Wilkins, 28, carried out a "brutal and sustained assault" on Artura Busma before photographing his body at a flat in Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton.
Wilkins punched, kicked and stamped on his 39-year-old victim and then stabbed him so hard a knife broke, with the wound penetrating to his bone, before he burned his back with an iron.
Mr Busma, who was a maintenance engineer and had a wife and children, befriended Wilkins and his friend Jodie Rafferty before they went back to drink at the killer's ground-floor home on April 20 last year.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Wilkins, who pleaded guilty to murder, became angry when Mr Busma put his arm around his Ms Rafferty, believing it inappropriate behaviour.
Sentencing Wilkins to life in prison with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years, judge Michael Chambers QC said: "This was a horrendous attack which was brutal and sustained.
"It involved not just a stab [wound] to the chest with a knife, but punching, kicking and stamping over a protracted period of time.
"In my judgement, it was a deliberate attempt to inflict pain by pressing a hot iron against the victim's back. The stab wound was [done] with such force that the blade broke."
Earlier that night, Mr Busma had been drinking heavily and left his home after having a disagreement with his wife, the court heard.
He had gone to see a friend and then met Wilkins and Ms Rafferty in a nearby street.
Wilkins went to a police station the night after killing Mr Busma and admitted the attack but claimed Mr Busma was the one who became aggressive and picked up the knife.
Mr Chambers dismissed his claims and said CCTV from a shop where the three went to buy alcohol showed Mr Busma being "amiable".
From friend to killer
The victim ended up buying Wilkins a bottle of Jack Daniels and some lemonade.
Mr Chambers said: "Those who are drinking heavily seek social connections and friendship with others who appear to have a common interest.
"He came across to you and Jodie. I am quite sure there was no initial disagreement. The CCTV shows smiling faces and [Mr Busma] putting his arm around Jodie and later you.
"The weight of the evidence would suggest some social interaction in the sitting room during which [he] placed his arm around Jodie Rafferty and you found showed inappropriate intention.
"Clearly you resented that and I am satisfied the assault took place in the hallway.
"You then subjected him to a sustained assault, kicking, stamping and punching to a horrendous extent.
"You stabbed him with a knife. The force was so much it caused the blade to break. You dragged him while still alive along the hallway into the doorway of the sitting room so you could heat up the iron and place it in his back.
"The marks were consistent with moving [the iron] around or placing it across his back in two actions. It left clear burn marks. You later took photographs of his body and your bloody shoes."
The court heard Wilkins returned to his flat at 10.34pm before Ms Rafferty left at 10.57pm.
Neighbours reported hearing a female screaming and "several bangs" before 11pm, the court was told.
Wilkins was overheard telling Ms Rafferty "you better keep your f***** mouth shut", said Mr Chambers.
Ms Rafferty was originally also charged with murder but the case was dropped by prosecutors.
Family left in 'deep emotional pit'
A post-mortem found Mr Busma suffered a "devastating number of serious injuries" including ribs fractures and a fracture to the cartilage in his neck.
A victim impact statement was read out from the widow of Mr Busma, who said: "The death of Artura Busma has had such a detrimental affect on the family.
"It is difficult to put into words what it means to have lost a husband and father. Not only was he the main provider but he was a role model to the children."
She said his death has left them in a "deep emotional pit" and they struggle to sleep at night.
Mr Andrew Fisher QC, defending Wilkins, said his client had been heading in a "vortex" to this, with his mental health and behaviour getting worse.
He said his "drinking" was getting worse and he was "spiralling" downwards.
Mr Fisher said: "He is finding it difficult to come to terms that he could behave like that."
Mr Busma, of Northolt Drive, Wolverhampton, leaves behind a wife and sons.
Detective Inspector Laura Harrison, from West Midlands Police, said: "Sadly the family of Mr Busma will never really know why their loved one was taken away in such a brutal way.
"It appeared he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and happened to come across Wilkins. He was persuaded to go the flat and it was there he was killed.
"We can only hope the lengthy prison sentence will offer some comfort to Mr Busma’s family and friends."
