Jilted lover facing life for murder of woman

A jilted fiance from the Black Country was today facing a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering his prospective mother-in-law.

Tipton delivery driver Robert Edwards knifed Sylvia Smith to death days after his relationship ended with her daughter Samantha.

The cold-blooded killer carried on with his day's deliveries after the attack.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court took just three hours to convict Edwards, aged 42, of Monins Avenue yesterday.

The family of the 59-year-old Mrs Smith welcomed the verdict and said in a statement: "This verdict is justice for Sylvia, it's not a time for celebration.We have lost a much-loved mother, sister and aunt and now have to live our lives without her, knowing the horrendous details of how she died."

Mrs Smith was killed at her home in Mere Road, Erdington on May 7.

Her body was found by Samantha on her return home from work. She had 60 knife wounds, broken ribs and a damaged spine.

Samantha and Edwards had been in a relationship since 2000 and were due to marry in August. But she ended the relationship in April and moved in with her mother. A bloody palm print of Edwards' was found on a wall in Mrs Smith's home.