Knife revenge of a jilted lover: Mother is stabbed to death at home for giving her marriage another try

• Martin Bunch, 44, stalked Jeanette Goodwin for months before repeatedly stabbing her to death with a five-inch kitchen knife in front of her husband
• He claimed to not remember the attack following a drink and drugs binge but was unanimously found guilty of murder by a jury following a four-week trial

A devoted mother was stabbed to death by her ‘wicked and callous’ former partner who could not accept that she wanted to give her marriage another try for the sake of her children.
Jeanette Goodwin, 47, broke off the long-term relationship with Martin Bunch, 44, and went back to her husband of 21 years, Mark.
The couple were at home preparing a barbecue when Bunch forced his way into the garden through a gap in the fence and launched the fatal attack. Mrs Goodwin bled to death on her patio after a 5in blade was plunged into her chest more than 20 times as Bunch crowed: ‘I told her I would kill her.

Guilty: Martin Bunch (left) stabbed to death his former lover Jeanette Goodwin (right) after she broke off their eight-year affair to rebuild her marriage

At the time, he was under a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-partner or going to her house in Southend, following his arrest for harassing her.
He remained free despite repeatedly breaching the conditions and the mother of three informing police she had been told he planned to kill her.
Bunch was found guilty of murder after a four-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and faces a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on Friday.

Horror: Mrs Goodwin's husband Mark Goodwin witnessed the attack which saw his wife stabbed multiple times with a five inch kitchen knife

Judge Charles Gratwicke said: ‘This was a wicked, callous and violent crime for which he has shown absolutely no remorse whatsoever. He should expect a really substantial prison sentence.’
Mr and Mrs Goodwin married in 1990. They had three children – Samantha, 21, Charles, 18 and Harry, 14 – but their marriage went through a rough patch and they separated.
Mrs Goodwin began an eight-year relationship with Bunch which came to an end in late 2010 when she told him she was going to give her marriage another try.
The labourer began bombarding her with calls and was charged with harassment.
Magistrates released him on bail after imposing the restraining order but, less than a month before her death, Mrs Goodwin told police she had received unwanted voicemails, texts and visits from Bunch, who had also told his mother he planned to kill her.
She said: ‘This behaviour has left me fearful for my life. I just want him to leave me alone.’
Bunch was arrested again on July 14 for removing a tag used to check he was observing a curfew but on July 20 he was again granted bail at Southend Magistrates’ Court.
Four days later, Mrs Goodwin saw him outside her home. She did not report it to police immediately because she refused to let him spoil a ‘lovely summer’s afternoon’.
At around 7.30pm she pressed a panic alarm. Police arrived six minutes later but she had already been stabbed. Her children were not at home at the time.
Bunch, of Southend, was found at his mother’s house 30 minutes later clutching a 5in kitchen knife.
He denied murder, claiming he did not remember what happened, but was found guilty by a unanimous verdict on Tuesday.

Investigation: A forensic tent in the back garden of Mark and Jeanette's family home where she was found collapsed on the ground