Katie Yeomans, a mother-of-two, has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of her boyfriend, Rees Howarth. The incident occurred after an argument broke out between the couple at Yeomans’ home. Howarth, consumed by jealousy over Yeomans’ ex-partner, repeatedly questioned her about her previous relationship, leading to a fight. Yeomans fatally stabbed Howarth in the chest during the altercation. Instead of seeking immediate help, she contacted family and friends to ask for assistance in disposing of the victim’s body in a nearby alleyway. It was only after a family member arrived that emergency services were called, but Howarth was pronounced dead at the scene. Yeomans claimed she stabbed him out of fear and panic, believing he was about to assault her. The court accepted her guilty plea on the grounds of loss of control. Although convicted of manslaughter, Yeomans is expected to be released after serving two-thirds of her sentence.
The court heard that Yeomans and Howarth had been involved in a volatile relationship for five years, with Howarth displaying excessive jealousy towards Yeomans’ ex-partner. In the past, he had even stabbed her ex-partner in front of her, but was not convicted. Yeomans herself had a history of domestic violence and had been accused of stabbing a previous partner. The fatal stabbing occurred in April 2021 after the couple had spent the previous evening with friends and returned to Yeomans’ home to continue drinking. The argument escalated, leading to the tragic outcome.
During the trial, Yeomans admitted to brandishing a knife in self-defense and hitting out at Howarth with her fist after he hit her. The situation escalated further as Yeomans attempted to leave the house, but Howarth followed her. In a state of fear, Yeomans turned around and quickly stabbed him with the knife she was still holding. Howarth collapsed outside but was dragged back indoors by Yeomans. Instead of immediately calling emergency services, Yeomans contacted her sister and they tried to revive the victim before ultimately moving his body to a nearby alleyway.
Upon sentencing, Mr Justice Mark Turner acknowledged Yeomans’ background of abuse and the impact her custody would have on her two children. However, he also noted her attempt to cover up the crime by providing misleading accounts to Howarth’s father and the police. The father expressed his anguish in court, questioning why Yeomans had caused so much pain and heartache. He hoped for the truth to be revealed regarding the exact circumstances of his son’s death.
While Yeomans received a prison sentence of five years and three months, there were shouts of outrage from the public gallery, expressing dissatisfaction with what some felt was an inadequate punishment. The case shines a light on the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the importance of seeking help and intervention in volatile relationships.
Disclaimer: This article provides an overview of a court case and reflects the information presented during the trial. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the court or the involved parties.
