Knight finally admitted the killing at Northampton Crown Court on Friday. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on January 29
A mum was strangled to death by her thug husband because she planned on leaving him, her dad has said.
Paul Knight, 36, this week pleaded guilty to killing talented artist Isobella Knight, 32, while their two daughters slept in their semi-detached home in Burton Latimer, Northants, on June 13 last year.
Her heartbroken father, Tim Davies, 58, today claimed: “She suffered from his controlling behaviour and verbal and psychological abuse, particularly over the last few years. She told him that she wanted to split, and they had come to an agreement on how to handle things for the benefit of the kids. Izzy made it clear that she’d had enough.”
Mr Davies explained the abuse his daughter, who was known as Izzy, suffered was only discovered by their family after her death. He told the Daily Mail: “She never told me her troubles and that’s hard for me to take.
“She discussed it with some of her close friends, but we only found out about the domestic pressure she was under after her killing. The truth about her marriage really shocked me and this has added to the emotional trauma the whole family has been going through.”
Her sister Georgia added: “We only found out the truth about her marriage afterwards and it was a huge shock. Izzy was my best friend, we spoke every day, but she never told me anything about the abusive behaviour she was suffering because she wanted to protect the family.”
Knight finally admitted the killing at Northampton Crown Court on Friday. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on January 29. The court heard how the morning after the killing, he asked his mother to look after their children claiming he and Izzy were unwell.
Once they were collected, he made several botched suicide attempts before crashing his car into a McDonald’s car park nearby. Police officers who responded to the collision became suspicious about his behaviour and searched his home where they found Izzy’s body.
A post-mortem later found she died as a result of pressure being applied to her neck and the court heard Knight attacked his “incredible” wife in a violent rage. Their two children, aged six and three, are now being looked after by Izzy’s mum Helena, and her partner David. But they fear they may have to go to court to prevent Knight from having influence on decisions regarding them.
Legislation, known as Jade’s Law, which would automatically strip parental responsibility from a parent who has been convicted of killing their partner, passed through Parliament in April 2024. But it has not yet come into force due to a conflict between family courts and the Ministry of Justice.
Mr Davies said: “If Jade’s law was operating we would not have this concern. I may potentially have to pay for legal advice to get him exempted and that’s not right.” Paying tribute to his daughter, he added: “When I think of Izzy, it’s as a mum. She was wonderful, she just shone.
“She encouraged her children to find their talents, and now as her family we will keep her memory alive for them. We will stand side-by-side and say to them ‘this is your mum, and she was brilliant and wonderful, and she loved you so much’, just the way I have always loved her.”
Izzy’s mum Helena said: “I want everyone to know that Izzy was so much more than a victim. She was a loving mother, a treasured daughter, a best friend in sister form, a talented artist, and a great friend.
“She laughed, she cried, she worked tirelessly to provide for her children, she had dreams, and she loved hard. She was such a lovely woman, and I already miss her so much. She will never ever be forgotten, and we will make sure her girls grow up knowing what an incredible person she was.”
Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team, said: “This is a tragic case of violence against a woman who had everything to live for and I am pleased Paul Knight has finally decided to tell the truth and admit to his wife’s murder. It is clear to see through the words written by her parents that Izzy was an incredible woman with so many positive qualities and so many reasons to live.
“He has left two daughters without a mother and there is no sentence that could ever make up for that. I am glad that Izzy’s family do not now have to go through further pain in the form of a trial and my thoughts remain with them at what continues to be a very difficult time.”
