Peterborough: Two Sentenced For Murder

20 March 2013, 13:12 | Updated: 20 March 2013, 14:00

Two homeless women have each been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a man in Peterborough.

47 year old Erika Butkeviciene was Thursday found guilty of the murder of Nigel Clarke [pictured - right]  following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, she has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years.

Stella McNulty, 46, had pleaded guilty to murder before the start of the trial, she was given life with a minimum of 13 and a half years.

Mr Clarke was found dead at his home in Eastfield Road, Peterborough on the evening of Wednesday 29 August 2012.

According to Cambridgeshire Police, both women bragged about the killing to fellow drinkers in a park in Peterborough.

However, Mr Clarke's body was not found until being discovered by a maintenance man carrying out repairs to his flat a week after his death.

A post mortem was inconclusive due to the level of decomposition; however it was found he had six separate injuries including to his face and ribs.

He was last seen alive on August 21, when he was spotted on CCTV walking with Butkeviciene and McNulty. He did not have any visible injuries at that time.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Hutchinson said: "This was a cowardly killing of a harmless man in his own home.

Nigel Clarke was very slight and quite frail. 

He would have posed little threat to women of the stature of Butkeviciene and McNulty.

Both women showed no remorse and even bragged about what they'd done the following day.

This is a tragic case but we are pleased to have some justice for Mr Clarke."

Statement from Nigel Clarke's partner Debbie Martin: "Firstly on behalf of myself and Nigel's family, we would like to say thank you to the family liaison officers, police and Victim Support for their time and support over the past six months.

Everyone has been wonderful and very supportive. I would also like to say a big thank you to my family for their support.

This has been the hardest six months of my life. 

Nigel was really liked by everyone who knew him; no-one had a bad word to say about him.

He was easy to get on with, he was always in my life. 

We were always together and always there for each other. Nigel will be sadly and deeply missed. 

He was a good guy and always had time for other people. 

He will always be in our thoughts and he will be forever in our hearts. Nigel was not only my partner but he was also my best friend."