A judge sentenced a 39-year-old man to a minimum of 21 years in prison for murdering his wife in a brutal knife attack at their North Berwick home on New Year's Day 2024. Mompati Dodo Isaacs stabbed Keotshepile Naso Isaacs nine times in the head and neck after taking a knife from the kitchen and returning to their bedroom.
Judge Lady Ross described the attack at Edinburgh's High Court on Friday as despicable. «New Year's Day normally is a time for thinking about new beginnings and the future. But in the early hours of January 1, 2024 in the family home in North Berwick, you brought Naso's life to an end. [...] You took a knife from the kitchen. You returned to the bedroom and woke up Naso and stabbed her nine times to the head and neck,» she told Isaacs. The 33-year-old victim «suffered pain and experienced horrific fear» and had defensive injuries showing she tried to protect herself.
Devastating impact on family
The judge emphasized the devastating impact on the couple's three young children. The attack deprived them of their mother's love and care. Victim impact statements from family in Botswana described profound grief. «This was a brutal and violent attack using a knife against your wife, who was utterly defenceless. [...]» Lady Ross said. «Nothing could be done to save her.»
The couple had moved to Scotland from Botswana several years earlier. Ms. Isaacs worked in a respectable and important job as a support worker and a carer. Concerned friends alerted police after receiving phone messages from her.
Defence rejected
A jury convicted Isaacs of murder in September after rejecting his claims that he was provoked by his wife's behaviour and that his mental health affected his responsibility. His lawyer Gareth Jones KC told the court that Isaacs is «at a loss» to explain his actions and «wishes me to emphasise to the court that he does recognise the profound effect and impact his actions have had and continue to have on his children and the wider family. [...]»
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