FACEBOOK MURDERER GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE; Victim's mother tells of her irreplaceable loss.

THE mother of a woman murdered by her partner after a row about Facebook has spoken of the devastating loss of her "beautiful daughter".

Brian Lewis first stabbed and then strangled Hayley Jones to death at the home they shared with their four children, less than a fortnight after she changed her status to "single" on the social networking website.

He was yesterday jailed for life at Cardiff Crown Court and told he must serve a minimum of 14 years.

Hayley's mother Sally Williams said: "Her days of seeing her children growing up and possibly becoming a grandmother were cruelly taken from her.

"Although, Hayley, you are no longer with us in this life, you are always in our thoughts and you will always live on through your children.

God bless."

The court had heard 31-year-old Lewis, of Pritchard Terrace, Phillipstown, New Tredegar, fled the scene after the fatal attack during the early hours of March 12 of this year and drove to a police station, leaving his children to find their mother's body in the living room.

The couple's relationship had been under strain due to financial pressures after the defendant was made redundant.

They also bickered over the amount of time Ms Jones had taken to spending on the Facebook website.

Lewis had claimed he had been trimming his finger nails with a kitchen knife when he tried to "touch" his 26-year-old partner's sleeping bag with the tip of the blade out of frustration following a row.

The knife pierced two sleeping bags and went through three layers of clothing Ms Jones had been wearing while trying to sleep on a settee before her ribcage prevented it from penetrating any further.

Lewis said he later found himself with his hands around Ms Jones' throat and only came to and released his grip when he heard one of his sons calling out from upstairs.

After just three hours, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Lewis showed no emotion as the verdict was read out, although there were shouts of "Yes!" and "Get in there!" from the public gallery.

Judge Roderick Evans sentenced Lewis to life imprisonment and ordered that he serve a minimum of 14 years, less the time spent in custody on remand.

Mr Justice Evans said two aggravating features in the incident were the use of a knife and the attack taking place within earshot of his children.

"Quite how much they saw or heard is difficult to tell but I have no doubt that part of this incident occurred when they were observing it or hearing it," said the judge.

"There are mitigating factors. I bear in mind you are of good character. I accept it was not pre-planned but I'm satisfied there was no provocation."

After the case, Hayley's mother said: "The murder conviction and sentence of Brian Lewis can never replace the loss of my beautiful daughter.

"She was a devoted mother to her four children, Jordan, Cory, Kian and Tia. She recently started work to try and improve the life of her family."

She said that as her daughter lay asleep, she was "cowardly attacked by the accused" who then left their children to "see all the destruction he had left behind".

Detective Chief Inspector Russ Tiley, of Gwent Police, said: "We are satisfied with the decision of the court. It was a tragic event that had taken place and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Hayley.

"The children and family were brave throughout this process and hopefully the verdict that has been reached will now give them some closure."

CAPTION(S):

Murder victim Hayley Jones Brian Lewis, 31, being led out of Cardiff Crown Court after being sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his partner Hayley Jones PICTURE: Andrew Lloyd [umlaut]