A gay man who stabbed his 'husband' to death has been convicted of Britain's first ever domestic violence murder within a gay marriage.
Michael Edwards, 32, knifed his 35-year-old partner John Edwards in the heart in the days after their second wedding anniversary following an argument over a heating bill.
The pair - both barmen - were one of 8,728 gay couples who married in 2007 two years after civil partnership were allowed in the UK under the Civil Partnership Act.
They were described as a 'lovely couple' but their stormy marriage was blighted by domestic violence with Michael regularly beating up or trying to strangle John during 'stress' fuelled rages.
It emerged the killer had a previous conviction for stabbing a ex-partner in the back during a tiff.
Today, Edwards, of Lockton Court, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester was starting life in jail after admitting murder. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years and four months before being considered for parole.
He stood crying and shaking in the dock as Judge Anthony Gee QC told him: 'You went through a civil ceremony together and in the main you lived happily together thereafter.
'I am prepared to accept that you now bitterly regret your actions and the loss you have caused.'
Earlier Manchester Crown Court heard how John, described by his mother Jean as a 'lovely lad, very happy and would do anything for anyone', had married Edwards in a civil partnership in November 2007 after meeting him in the year 2000.
Despite the public face of happiness and contentment, friends and family said there concerns about incidents of domestic violence between the couple with Edwards admitting he beat up John as a 'means of relieving stress'.
The landlord of the Bulls Head pub in Manchester where the couple worked said John was 'more sensible and quiet one who doted on Michael' whilst Michael was 'highly strung and temperamental.'
Prosecutor Miss Elizabeth Nicholls said that on the morning of the 26th November 2009 the pair had both worked the morning shift at the pub before going shopping and then returning for Michael's late shift.
They later joined friends at the Waldorf pub before leaving at closing time when the two of them went to a number of other bars, before returning home.
CCTV cameras timed their arrival back at their home at 1.15am. They began to argue over the heating bill and as Edwards grabbed a knife, John fled to the lounge pushing the door shut between them.
Edwards plunged the knife through the door before 'nicking' John with it on the arm and shoulder. He then 'delivered a fatal blow'.
Edwards then called an ambulance claiming his partner had stabbed himself and he had 'blood all over his hands.'
He told the operator 'He is not violent. He has stopped. He has stabbed himself. I have got blood all over my hands. I have tried to stop the bleeding.'
John was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary but was pronounced dead later that morning. Michael was arrested and the following day he admitted stabbing John but claimed it had been in self defence.
He later admitted he had intended to cause John serious harm, but denied intending to kill. He said they had been having an argument over turning the heating on, and paying the heating bill before he grabbed the knife.
Tests revealed John had suffered another nine minor puncture wounds around the chest and abdomen.
The court heard that Edwards pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding at Carlisle Crown Court in 2007 after he stabbed a former partner in the back following an argument after a night out but had escaped with a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Miss Nicholls told the court that there had also been reports of previous violence between John and Michael one year before the murder and in February 2009 Edwards allegedly strangled John and had caused 'distress and pain' to the deceased.
Defending Mr Constandino Charalmbous said: 'We know that the couple were by and large a happy couple. They had been together for several years and eventually entering into a civil ceremony.
'It was something that he did in anger. At the time of this incident he was very angry.'
Senior investigating officer Vinny Chadwick said after the case: 'This case demonstrates that domestic abuse, in all its guises, can have a damaging effect on any relationship regardless of sexuality or gender.
'This was a tragic and senseless end to what had been, at times, a violent relationship but also, at times, a loving relationship.
'Domestic violence had been a common theme between them and Michael later admitted to us that they had frequent fights.
'We hope John's family can now begin to put this ordeal behind them and remember their loved one in happier times. '
'domestic dispute' and the cops arrive and see 2 husbands fighting, which one do they arrest (assuming both are still alive) LOL?
