Portsmouth woman jailed for 23 years for murder committed over a £100 debt

Victoria Arthur, 44, was motionless as judge Mrs Justice May handed down the sentence at Salisbury Crown Court following her ruthless knife attack on Nadine Burden, 37, in Ms Burden’s Toronto Road house on January 28 last year.

Arthur had stormed round to Ms Burden’s home in her wheelchair while armed with a knife before confronting her victim and stabbing her seven times before making off.

Arthur, of Milton Road, was fuming over non-payment of an outstanding debt of £100 to her partner Julie Palmer, of Westminster Place, who was sentenced to two years prison for assisting an offender after she washed Arthur’s bloodstained clothes.

Mrs Justice May said to Arthur: ‘I’m sentencing you to life imprisonment. Ms Burden’s death is a tragedy for her family and friends who hoped that she would recover from her addictions.

‘You went round to Ms Burden’s home and inflicted multiple stab wounds before leaving her alone. She must have been utterly terrified.

‘You wiped down the door before leaving and went home where your clothes were washed.’

Turning to Palmer the judge said: ‘You knew Ms Burden had been stabbed and washed the knife and clothes.’

Ms Burden’s dad Serge Garbou said after the verdict: ‘Nothing will bring my daughter back but I’m pleased with the verdicts. Justice was done.

‘I would like to thank the police and prosecution for their efforts.’

Det Con Steve Norridge said: ‘I would like to thank Nadine’s family for their support and understanding throughout the investigation and I would especially like to thank her dad, who has acted with immense dignity throughout the court cases.

‘I hope today’s sentence goes some way to giving the family closure and that they can move on from this terrible event.

‘I am grateful to the significant witnesses who attended court on more than one occasion, in order to present crucial evidence.

‘I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the efforts of the paramedics and officers who responded to the incident, as well as those involved in the murder enquiry that followed.’