Wife stabbed 60 times by partner after separation

A woman was murdered by her estranged husband who was "unwilling to accept" her decision to end their 13-year relationship, an inquest heard.

Karen O'Leary, 63, was found dead alongside her husband Dennis O'Leary, 61, at her home in Leeds on 25 April 2024.

An inquest into the mother-of-two's death was told she suffered more than 60 stab wounds, with a confession letter written by Mr O'Leary also discovered at the address in Oakwood.

Mrs O'Leary was described as "quiet and reserved" by her friend Anne-Marie Friel, who told the hearing at Wakefield Coroner's Court she was "the type of person that would rather put herself out than let someone down".

The inquest, which was attended by Mrs O'Leary's friends and family, heard she and Mr O'Leary had got together in 2011 after meeting online, and married in 2014.

However, in the summer of 2023 she told her long-standing friend Ms Friel there were problems in their relationship.

According to evidence given to the hearing Mrs O'Leary said her husband was "up and down in mood" and "loses his temper a lot".

Det Sgt Bethany Smith from West Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation into the pair's death, said they were not known to police, but told the hearing there were "several instances" - dating as far back as 2014 - where Mr O'Leary had visited his GP to "raise concerns about his own anger issues" and "violent outbursts".

Giving evidence to the court, Mrs O'Leary's youngest daughter Louise Staveley said her mother's relationship with Mr O'Leary "seemed quite normal".

"They had their ups and downs like any couple, but nothing out of the ordinary."

About seven weeks prior to her death, Mrs O'Leary, a retail assistant, had left her husband and moved out.

Father-of-two Mr O'Leary had been "desperate for the relationship to continue", according to Mrs Staveley.

Det Sgt Smith said his messages towards his wife after their split became "incredibly aggressive and derogatory", as well as "constant".

"He doesn't take no for an answer," she added.

Assistant coroner Naomi McLoughlin, who chaired the hearing, said it was the evidence of the police that Mr O'Leary has been "unwilling to accept Karen's decision to end their relationship".

Dept Sgt Smith told the hearing Mr O'Leary's web history included searches for 'What happens if one person wants a divorce and the other doesn't?' and 'How long does it take for a body to reach the surface after drowning?'.

The searches dated back to before Mrs O'Leary had left him, she added.

The night before he killed Mrs O'Leary when she had visited him, he paid to fill up a jerry can at a local petrol station.

"For us that shows an intention," said Det Sgt Smith.

• If you have been affected by the issues raised in this report you can find more help and support via the BBC Action Line

Officers attended Mrs O'Leary's home in Fearnville Close, Oakwood, after receiving a concern for welfare report and they found Mr O'Leary's body next to that of his wife in an upstairs bedroom.

Paramedics said both had suffered "significant burns", with "significant fire damage to the room".

Mrs O'Leary had suffered 67 "sharp-force injuries", Ms McLoughlin said, with "over 60 stab wounds".

Officers found a blood-stained kitchen knife in the property which had traces of Mrs O'Leary's DNA, while a confession letter written by Mr O'Leary, who died from burn injuries, was discovered in his car.

Ms McLoughlin recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing.

She offered her condolences to Mrs O'Leary's family and friends, adding: "It sounded like she left a positive impression wherever she went."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.