A man has today been jailed for life for murdering his former partner in her Colchester home.

Mark Czapla, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester was found guilty of murdering Kirsty Humphrey at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday. He stabbed the 23-year-old to death in her lounge.

Czapla, who worked as a groundsman at the time of the murder, did not give evidence to the court. The jury found him guilty based on the evidence they heard. The 24-year-old was arrested soon after the murder which took place in Kirsty’s home in Queen Elizabeth Way, on Wednesday, September 4, 2013.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Simon Werrett, said: “The death of Kirsty Humphrey was premature and should not have happened. Czapla has deprived a family of their daughter and a child of their mother. His actions have affected several lives. He also has not admitted his involvement or showed remorse, putting a child through the emotion and stress of giving live evidence in a crown court case. I wish to again thank the family for their support in this investigation and my team in bringing this dangerous individual to justice.”

Czapla was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 23 years.