Live from court as Sally Godwin jailed for six years for Ronald Portz killing
Ronald Portz was found dead at his home in Orchard Park in November last year
Sally Godwin has been jailed for six years for the manslaughter of Ronald Portz.
Godwin, 29, will now begin her sentence for killing 30-year-old Mr Portz at the house they shared in Dodthorpe, Orchard Park on November 9 last year.
Godwin was arrested and charged with murder just two days after Mr Portz was found dead.
She denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She was sentenced by His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson at Sheffield Crown Court just after 2pm today.
Judge Richardson said: "You must now go to the cells and begin your sentence."
Updates live from the courtroom will be available in the blog below.
KEY EVENTS
Sally Godwin is jailed for six years
Godwin has been handed a six-year sentence for the manslaughter of Ronald Portz.
Judge Richardson said: "You must now go to the cells and begin your sentence."
Godwin sobbed as she was taken from the dock by an officer. She blew a kiss to her parents and told them she loved them.
'A man was killed at your hands'
The judge says: "It must always be remembered that a man has been killed at your hands and but for your loss of control, this would have been a case of murder. In all cases of this kind, it is necessary to keep a sense of reality and precaution."
Godwin 'intended to cause injury'
The judge says: "You plainly intended to cause serious injury when you stabbed the deceased."
Godwin is crying in the dock.
Mr Portz's death was 'not self-defence'
Judge Richardson said: "An argument erupted over cocaine and the deceased became violent towards you. Your throat and hair was grabbed and you grabbed a knife intending at first to frighten him. You then stabbed him in the chest.
"This was not self-defence. At the time you had lost your self-control."
Relationship saw 'avalanche of violence'
"You suffered a temporary loss of control on November 9. Your two children, aged 12 and 4 were present and observed some of the events and that is an aggravated feature", the judge has said.
"As a result of the collective avalanche of violence directed at you your mental health deteriorated."
Godwin and Ronald Portz had a 'corrosive relationship'
The judge says he has the statement from Tina Moss, Ronald Portz's mother and also takes into account the fact that the children have lost their father.
He said: "You were undoubtedly in a corrosive relationship that was long term.
"The abuse was perpetrated on you by him and you also perpetrated violence on him on occasion but the greatest violence was on you that caused you to have a deterioration in your mental health."
'Prison is falling hard on you'
The judge says; "I'm very mindful of the psychological report and your mental health issues which have not been addressed and will not be able to in the near future due to the coronavirus crisis.
"Prison is falling hard on you, that is something I look at when setting the starting point in this case."
Previous convictions will not guide the sentence
The judge says Godwin's previous convictions will not guide her sentence.
He says: "I have read the psychological report. I also take into account the mitigation that has been so capably advanced on your behalf. I note you have not seen your children for many months due to the Covid-19 crisis and particularly take into account you were habituated to violence within your relationship with the deceased and your immediate remorse and early admission of responsibility."
The judge is addressing Godwin
Judge Richardson said: "Sally Godwin. You fall to be sentenced for manslaughter by reason of loss of control.
"The facts of this case are fully set out in the opening, prepared by Jamie Hill QC. At the time you killed your long-term partner, he was 30 and you were 28. You had been together for many years, indeed since you and he were teenagers.
"I note your previous convictions. They are only relevant to reveal you are not a woman of good character."
The judge has returned
Judge Jeremy Richardson has re-entered the courtroom.
Judge has risen
Judge Jeremy Richardson has now risen to consider his verdict.
He is expected back in the courtroom no later than 3.10pm.
Godwin has been diagnosed with PTSD
Ms Goddard says: "She is alone in her cell with just her thoughts and PTSD diagnosed. She does not have the skills to navigate the difficult and emotional journey that she must undertake.
"There is no promise she will get that help she has been crying out for since she was 16."
Godwin 'cradled Ronald Portz' as he took his last breath
Godwin has asked her represented to put forward "how very sorry she is for what happened that night."
Ms Goddard says; "From the moment she struck him with that knife everything she has done has demonstrated that remorse. She cradled him as he breathed his last and ensured the children were kept out of the way."
'No idea how she will live without him'
Godwin has "no idea" how she will live without Mr Portz.
'She loved him'
Ms Goddard says: "However desperate the life was for people looking in on her, the degree of alcohol and occasional drug misuse, her parents concerned for her safety, however desperate that was it was a life that she loved because she loved her partner. He was the only one she ever had and ever thought she would have."
Godwin was put in hospital due to violence from Ronald Portz
Ms Goddard says Godwin never inflicted on him any "serious injuries" before and only "tiny marks."
She has told the court: "She had never inflicted injuries to put him in hospital but she was hospitalised at his hands on more than one occasion."
Godwin's injuries
Ms Goddard says that Godwin sustained injuries during the altercation on November 9.
She says: "Ms Godwin had been in this relationship since she was 12-years-old. By the time she was 16, domestic violence was becoming a feature in that relationship. From a very young age, the use of violence to resolve arguments or to prove or make a point had been established, and not by her. It had been normalised."
Psychological report
Catherine Goddard, QC, is representing Godwin.
She says a psychological report carried out does not wish to "paint her as a saint and Mr Portz as a sinner but presents a balance to the background of this case which is a world away from what we are familiar in our personal lives."
'Ronald had a zest for life'
Ms Moss says her son was "the life and soul of the party."
She added: "He has left a big void in all of our lives. I just wish I could see my son again."
'Every day is a rollercoaster'
Ms Moss says: "I'm naturally devastated by what has happened. Every day is a rollercoaster.
"The fact I will never see my child again is the worst thing in the world. I find it hard to cope. I can't help feeling part of my life has gone with him. The impact it has had on his friends and family. He will not see his children marry. He will not be able to call himself a grandad."
Mr Portz's mother has written a victim personal statement
She says: "He was 30-years-old. He was killed by his partner on the 9th November 2019.
"He was the father of two children he had with Sally. They are now without their father. He was killed in his own home in the place he should have felt safe.
"What happened on that fateful day took a piece of my heart. My life will never be the same."
'I didn't intend to hurt him'
When charged with murder, Mr Hill says Godwin told police "I didn't do it, I didn't mean to hurt him."
Godwin has just one previous conviction of criminal damage and common assault following an incident at a takeaway. The incident did not involve Mr Portz.
As Mr Hill reads this out, Godwin is crying.
'This wasn't meant to happen'
Godwin told police, "Oh my god this wasn't meant to happen it was a daft argument"
There was cocaine in Godwin's blood at the time she was tested. Mr Portz had a higher alcohol reading and traces of cocaine.
Godwin was sobbing 'I've killed him'
A neighbour who entered the house told police Godwin was crying and screaming she had "killed him."
Couple's son witnessed the aftermath
The young boy went downstairs to find Mr Portz covered in blood.
Mr Hill said Godwin said, "Ring an ambulance" and she and her son went into the street shouting for help.
The prosecutor told the court how Godwin told a neighbour she had "killed him."
Godwin 'did not mean to kill Ronald Portz'
"The scuffle ended with her on the floor and as she hauled herself up he was shouting over her and being abusive. She grabbed the knife nearest to her hand. SHe was in fear of serious violence.
"Her memory is unclear but she accepts she must have made some movement for the knife to end up in her chest. She did not mean to kill him."
Portz 'attacked' Godwin before he was stabbed
Mr Hill says Godwin said Portz "called her a s*** and attacked her" and when she knocked a knife block over he "pushed and grabbed her and she tried to get him away from her. He tried to grab her neck and a knife block was knocked over."
Events turned to the worst
Mr Hill said: "At about 10pm to 10.30pm, they offered to walk a friend back to her house and they stayed there until about 11.30pm before making their way home.
"She says she went to the kitchen to prepare food and he went to the bathroom to find crack cocaine and when he couldn't find it trouble started."
The couple had been drinking on November 9
Everyone in their company described how they were "getting on well."
Mr Hill has told the court that Mr Portz had been out of prison for a week when he died.
Godwin 'not afraid' of Mr Portz
A neighbour told police he had seen the couple 'hitting each other.'
Others described how they heard Godwin shouting and "she seemed to be the one who had the last word."
Mr Hill said: "It is right to say they both drank to excess and would take cocaine, with Ronald Portz taking it more often than Sally Godwin."
History of domestic violence
Mr Hill says there was a history of domestic violence, with Mr Portz punching Godwin at times.
The couple's son told how Godwin and Mr Portz would "fight a lot" and he would "jump on his father's back if he felt he was getting the better of his mother."
'Catastrophic loss of blood'
Mr Hill says: "It was shortly after midnight when she stabbed her long-term partner, Ronald Portz.
"She stabbed him once in the chest with a kitchen knife during an altercation.
"The stab wound went through his chest, piercing the left-lung."
Mr Hill said Mr Portz died almost immediately due to a "catastrophic loss of blood."
Ronald Portz died from single stab wound
Mr Hill says Godwin showed "immediate remorse", suggesting a "loss of control."
No one else was present at the time.
Godwin pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Mr Jamie Hill, QC, says Godwin pleaded guilty to manslaughter as an alternative to the original charge, murder.
She indicated a guilty plea to manslaughter earlier this year, before the trial date.
Godwin pleaded guilty on the basis of a loss of control.
Mr Hill says there was a history of domestic discourse and outbursts of violence that were assaults more often perpetrated by Mr Portz.
Sally Godwin has appeared in the dock
She is dressed in a green jumper.
The prosecution is now opening the case.
The case is being called on
The court usher is now calling the case on.
Members of Mr Portz's family are attending the hearing.
Sentencing due to start at 2pm
Sally Godwin will be sentenced by His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson.
Godwin will be represented by Catherine Goddard, QC. Prosecuting is Jamie Hill QC.
The hearing is due to start at 2pm.
Video footage of Ronald Portz
'I begged him to open his eyes'
Soon after he had died, Mr Portz's mother, Tina Moss, paid tribute to him.
She said he was a "lovely son" who had been "taken from her."
She said: "I went to see his body and I was begging him to open his eyes. I want him to come home. I just want Ronald back.
"He would always come and see me, and he looked out for all of my kids. If any harm came to them he sorted it all out.
"He came out of prison a couple of weeks ago, after being inside for 14 days, and he rang me and said, 'Mam, I'm out.'
"I was laughing at him and joked when his next holiday would be. That was the last time I got to speak to him properly.
"I just can't believe this has happened. I'm heartbroken."
Sally Godwin's first court appearance
After being charged with murder on November 10, Sally Godwin made her first crown court appearance on November 14.
Dressed in a dark green jumper and flanked by two security guards, she confirmed her name and address.
Godwin wept throughout her hearing and a trial date was set for March this year. As she was led back into custody, she turned towards her family and shouted: "Don't let them take my kids."
She pleaded not guilty to murder on January 24, sobbing as she entered her plea, but has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Godwin was due to be sentenced on Friday, August 14, but the hearing was moved to today due to technical difficulties.
What we know so far
Ronald Portz was found dead at his home in Dodthorpe, Orchard Park on November 9 last year.
Police cordoned off the area and kept watch while forensics worked at the scene.
Residents described waking up to the sound of screaming. They said they watched in horror as police and paramedics rushed to the house.
One neighbour said she saw a boy desperately trying to alert neighbours by knocking on doors and windows and screaming.
At around 3pm on November 10, police said Ronald Portz, 30, a dad-of-three, had been found dead at the house just before 1am the day before and a woman, later named as Sally Godwin, had been arrested.
She was charged with murder on November 11.
