Police Brand Convicted Colchester Killer "Coward"

3 April 2014, 15:02 | Updated: 3 April 2014, 15:10

A man who killed his former partner in Colchester in a 'drug and drink fuelled rage' has today been sentenced to life in prison.

25 year-old Mark Czapla (pictured) was given a minimum jail term of 23 years, for stabbing 23 year-old Kirsty Humphrey last September.

He stabbed Kirsty to death in her own home on Queen Elizabeth Way.

Superintendent Simon Werrett from Essex Police: "The family are happy with the sentence, they are disappointed that he has not come before the court to either hear any of the the evidence against him or to hear the sentence pronounced upon him.

It just shows what a coward he is, that he's not even prepared to face the evidence against him or to face the family of Kirsty, who he's killed."