Jealous husband who strangled wife in bed given life sentence

A jealous husband who strangled his wife in their bed has received a life sentence.

Michael Davies, 58, was found guilty of killing Tracey Davies at their home on Bryn Terrace in Cefn Cribwr, Bridgend.

Davies wrongly suspected she was going to leave him and was jealous over his wife working with male colleagues.

He previously admitted the manslaughter of Tracey, 48, but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Jailing Davies for a minimum term of 14 years, judge Daniel Williams told the court "the fact is your anger was born of insecurity and exacerbated by mental illness".

Tracey's sister told the court her family were "tormented" by her last moments, and accused Davies of being a "coward".

Her daughter also told the court: "We as a family do not believe that Michael has shown any genuine remorse for what he did to mum or for the suffering that has caused us all.

"Not one ounce of emotion came from him in the courtroom. A man I thought I once knew has ruined our lives."

During his trial at Newport Crown Court, the jury was previously told that in the months before murdering his wife, Davies was working in logistics in Abu Dhabi.

He became increasingly depressed and anxious, living alone in a flat without windows, and was worried about paying back a £30,000 bank loan and repair costs to their home.

Davies said he could not understand why he strangled Tracey, the court heard, and said his mind was "broken".

"I have no idea what I was doing, I didn't understand what I was doing. I had no relation to my hands," he said.

"I knew it was wrong.

"There was no plan, no thought, I couldn't stop myself. I remember Tracey struggling and grabbing my arms."

After killing his wife, Davies took an overdose and stabbed himself in the throat and chest. The couple were later discovered by a family member and paramedics.

Psychiatrists agreed the defendant was suffering from a "depressive disorder with anxiety" but disagreed on the severity.

The court was told the couple met in 2021 and married in 2024. They both had two children each from previous relationships.

Tracey Davies' daughter, Danielle Young, told the court in a victim impact statement that her family would never come to terms with losing her mother.

"Losing mum in such a horrendous and violent way has affected us so much in our everyday lives," she said.

"Knowing that she would have been terrified and confused as she was killed is a thought that will continue to haunt us as a family.

"These are images that we will never be able to erase from our minds.

"To hear and see the graphic details of how she was killed by the person she loved has been a complete torment to us.

"As a family, we will always be tormented by the thoughts of mum's final moments as she left this world."

Tracey Davies' younger sister, Julie Reeve, told the court: "My sister really was the anchor that held our family together. Without her I feel like this family is completely broken.

"I am tormented by the thought that she would have struggled and would have been so petrified as she was killed by Michael.

"Michael, I think you're a coward for doing what you did."

David Elias KC, defending, said Davies had shown remorse because he had accepted that he had killed his wife.

He said: "He is a man that served his country with distinction in the armed forces for many years."

Elias said until "days" before killing his wife, Davies was spoken about as "being kind, considerate, a family man and someone who did his best to bring the families together whenever it was that he returned to the UK".

Handing Davies a life sentence, Williams said no sentence he could pass would ever be enough for Tracey's family.

"In early 2025, you were in Abu Dhabi when you learnt that your work would be coming to an end," he said.

"This triggered a decline in your mental health. You feared that you would not be able to repay a loan which you had taken out.

"You would ruminate and catastrophise about the consequences of being out of work.

"You thought that you would become less attractive to Tracey who had once regarded you as her saviour.

"Tracey herself had obtained work at this time, and you became highly insecure and jealous about her working with other men."

The judge said he did not accept that Davies was "telling the whole truth" about the murder.

"The truth is that you could not shake off your fear that Tracey was going to leave you for someone else," he said.

"Tracey's work was a source of insecurity and resentment. You have never said what caused you to kill Tracey.

"I'm sure that there was a trigger. Whether something was said or done or whether that trigger, external or in your mind, is something that only you know.

"And you're keeping that to yourself. The fact is that your anger, born of insecurity, and exacerbated by mental illness, got the better of you.

"And you strangled Tracey to death."

Det Ch Insp Claire Lamerton, of South Wales Police, said: "Tracey Davies' death and the manner in which she was killed has deeply affected not only the immediate family but also the wider community who knew her.

"During the trial it was highlighted that Tracey Davies was a devoted wife, mother, sister and friend for whom family meant everything.

"She would do anything for anyone and was nothing but a supportive and loving wife to Mr Davies."

She added the murder of Tracey was "not foreseen" and it was "crucial that we continue to raise awareness about mental health and domestic violence".

"If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to local services or helplines for assistance."

Paying tribute to Tracey in 2025, her family said she was an "extraordinary woman", and a "devoted mother" whose children were her "greatest pride".

They described her as "a cherished sister, a loyal friend, and a radiant presence whose laughter could light up any room".

The family added Tracey's "legacy lives on in the love she gave and the lives she changed".