The bereaved brother of Christina Alexander has shared the painful impact of her tragic murder at the hands of her husband, Robert Alexander, in their home in Dosthill, Tamworth, in June 2025. Christina, a devoted nurse with a 40-year career, was fatally stabbed over 70 times in a brutal and sustained assault.
Following the attack, Robert Alexander called emergency services to confess to murdering his wife. However, during the subsequent trial, he claimed self-defence and diminished responsibility, denying the murder. The jury rejected his defence, resulting in a unanimous conviction and a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years, which he began serving this week.
Christina’s brother, Neil Murphy, spoke at Stafford Crown Court about the devastating effect on the family. He described Christina, affectionately known as Tina, as “the most precious of siblings” and shared the family’s ongoing grief, stating, “Our lives will never be the same again. It feels like every one of us are serving a life sentence.” He added, “My heart will be broken forever.”
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Neil initially believed his sister had been stabbed only a few times, but medical evidence revealed she had suffered at least 77 stab wounds, in addition to being strangled and struck on the head with a can of dog food. These injuries caused catastrophic damage to her face, neck, body, arms and legs.
Expressing his horror, Neil said he was “chilled to the bone” upon learning the full extent of her suffering-a truth he said he would “never be able to forget.” He remarked, “Only one person alive today knows how much our sister truly suffered.”
The court heard that after the killing, Alexander told police, “I’ve disposed of my wife,” a statement Neil said “sums up his personality,” describing him as “heartless” and “self-centred.”
Neil reflected on Christina’s role within the family as a “second mum” who “never complained” about caring for her siblings. Despite the family’s efforts to cherish happy memories of her, they have found solace difficult amid the pain and sorrow caused by her violent death. He acknowledged that Christina’s compassionate nature, including her desire to support her husband in difficult times, ultimately contributed to the tragedy. “Sadly, it was not in Tina’s nature to turn her back on anyone in need,” he said.
The court also heard that Alexander self-harmed before the murder, reportedly to manipulate or control Christina, who was planning to leave the marriage. Alexander claimed to be suffering from amnesia regarding the attack, alleging Christina had hit him first.
Neil condemned Alexander’s “lies and deceit” in court, lamenting that if he had confessed immediately, the family might have found some closure sooner. He stated that Alexander’s attempt “to discredit and take away her memory has failed” and affirmed that his sister’s memory “will live on in each and every one of us.” He addressed Alexander directly, expressing hope that he would eventually come to terms with his actions and realise “the magnitude of what you have lost.”
Friends of Christina, known as the “Famous Five,” also paid tribute in a statement read to the court. They described her as “kind, caring and generous” and a “trusty colleague,” who had “always put others before herself” and dedicated her life to helping others. They said they were “heartbroken” and overwhelmed by the reality that they will never see her again, and noted, “We will never be a group of five again, but she will forever be part of our group, never forgotten.”
Robert Alexander, 66, of Ascot Drive, Dosthill, was convicted of murder earlier this year at Stafford Crown Court and sentenced on 1 September 2025.
The family and friends continue to grieve the loss of a beloved sister, daughter, nurse and friend, whose life was cruelly and violently cut short.