Man Gets Life For Killing Ex-Wife

A Leicester man has been jailed for life for killing his ex-wife.

37-year-old Matthew Ashill, from Braunstone, has been told to serve at least 15 years after admitting murdering 31-year-old Clare Ashill.

Ms Ashill's body was discovered by police at her home in Gooding Avenue at around 9am on Monday March 22, 2010.

A post mortem examination carried out confirmed she died of a combination of head injuries, stab wounds to the chest and manual strangulation.

Following the sentence at Leicester Crown Court, Clare's parents Roger and Elaine Medway issued the following statement on behalf of the family:

“Clare had her whole life ahead of her and it was taken away so cruelly. She was a lovely vibrant girl with an amazing zest for life.  Knowing we will never see her again has completely shattered our lives and we will never be the same.

“Life without Clare has left a massive hole in our lives knowing we will never see her beautiful smile again that could light up a whole room.

“No sentence that can be given can ever replace Clare or take away the immense loss that her family and friends feel.

“Our family would like to thank all Clare’s family and friends for their support during this traumatic time. We would also like to thank all those at Leicestershire Constabulary involved in the investigation in particular our family liaison officers.”

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Lee, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “This was a terrible waste of a young life and a devastating loss for Clare’s family who have been needlessly and cruelly robbed of any kind of future with her.

“I sincerely hope that Ashill’s admission of guilt, sparing the family the ordeal of a trial, will allow them to start to rebuild their lives and come to terms with Clare’s death.