A 53-year-old man in Australia has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the tragic death of his estranged wife on Valentine’s Day. Jeffrey James Godfrey admitted in Brisbane Supreme Court that he strangled 46-year-old Vanessa Godfrey, believing she had taken his identification cards.
The couple had been married for 27 years and despite their separation, they still spent time together. At the time of the incident, they were staying at Pelican Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast. Prosecutors revealed that Godfrey had a long history of using methamphetamine, which had affected his mental state, leading to paranoia.
Although he was not under the influence of drugs during the incident, he experienced delusions about his wife, as stated in court. The previous night, both attended a friend’s birthday celebration where Godfrey realized that his driver’s license and Medicare card were missing. Under the impression that Vanessa had stolen them, he confronted her the next morning. When she asked him for a neck massage, he wrapped his arm around her neck and strangled her.
After the incident, Godfrey reportedly harmed himself and drank alcohol before hotel staff discovered them in their room. He told authorities that he believed his wife had confirmed his suspicions, which led to the tragic events.
Originally charged with murder, his charge was reduced to manslaughter after he was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis. The couple’s daughter, Olivia, spoke in court about the impact of her father’s actions and his drug use on their family. She described the loss of her mother as life-changing, expressing deep pain over her father’s choices.
The prosecution is asking for a 10-year prison sentence, while the defense is requesting 9 years. The judge is expected to announce the sentence soon.
