BELFAST MAN JAILED FOR KILLING PARTNER ON HER BIRTHDAY
Paul Stockman, a 53-year-old man from Belfast, was found guilty of the murder of his partner, Patricia Bardon, on her 51st birthday in August.Although initially charged with murder, Stockman admitted to manslaughter, leading to a conviction.
Judge Mr.
Justice Hart imposed a minimum term of six years in prison, leaving open the possibility of parole for the parole authorities to decide.
The relationship between Stockman and Bardon was characterized by heavy alcohol consumption and a history of violence, during which Stockman caused her serious injuries.
The fatal incident resulted in head and neck injuries; post-mortem examinations revealed significant facial trauma, mainly around her eyes, lips, and nose, as well as two broken parts of her neck.
The judge observed that Stockman seemed unconcerned about her condition, evidenced by his failure to seek medical assistance after the attack.
The court noted that the relatively lenient sentence was partly due to Stockman’s late admission of guilt, which was considered a mitigating factor.
