At Least 21 Years In Jail For Soldier Who Stabbed Girlfriend To Death

A soldier has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend while their children slept upstairs.

The court heard that Jay Nava, a serving soldier with 29 Commando based at the Royal Citadel Plymouth, had a bitter and acrimonious argument with Natasha Wake on the evening she died, which may have been caused when she discovered an allegation of a sexual assault made against him earlier in 2016.

He told the court he did not remember stabbing Natasha 11 times in the chest and neck, and that he had no idea where the knife came from.

Officers found a handwritten note on the arm of the sofa in her living room, which read:

"The worst thing I have ever seen was the death of my lover and my child's mother. I wish I had a gun to shoot myself. If it did it would have been done by now. But I needed to get all the kids away as they shouldn't see this. I'm very weak and scared. I have been for a long time now. I'll see you again Tasha in the next world. X"

Another note read: "Tasha died at 11. I was ashamed to take my own life. She was the only person that I loved and loved me."

The jury was told that at the time of the attack Nava was suffering 'an abnormality in mental function'.

Winchester Crown Court heard that a psychiatrist was told that Nava's memory of the attack was "all a blur".

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said:

"Jay Nava lost control of his temper and subjected Natasha to a brutal and sustained attack. His violent actions that day have very sadly left two young children without their mother."

"I hope the verdict of the jury today will bring some small comfort to her family that Nava will now be facing a lengthy prison sentence.

"Natasha's family and friends have been very supportive of our investigation and I would like to thank them for that support and the incredible dignity they have shown throughout the trial which has been very traumatic for them to listen to."

The court heard from Dr Paul Warren, the psychiatrist for the defence, who said that Nava slept next to the body for some time.

Nava also told Dr Warren that he hid Miss Wake's body in a cupboard and cleaned the walls, so he could get children out of the house without them seeing their mother's body. 

The 26-year-old was later found lying fully clothed in the foetal position, having been covered with a duvet.

The soldier had been drinking at Natasha Wake's home at the beginning of October last year.

Following an argument, Miss Wake threatened to call the police and then bit Nava.

The court was told that the next thing Nava remembered was kneeling over his girlfriend's dead body.

Defending counsel Peter Griffiths told the court that the soldier had stabbed Miss Wake, but that he had an underlying personality disorder.

The court heard that the pair had been in a relationship for around two years and had a son together and a child each from previous relationships.

Their relationship was not straightforward, however, and at times Nava had been physically abusive toward his partner. 

He was found trying to take his own life by police.