A judge has sentenced a man to life imprisonment and labelled him “cowardly and selfish.”

Minta Adiddo will serve a minimum of 17 years for murdering his wife Akua Agyeman, 32, on November 6, 2012.

The 38-year-old stabbed his wife 29 times at their home in Morris Court in Enfield Island Village, before running her over with his car.

In his sentencing, Judge Brian Barker, described the incident as a “waste of a vibrant life”.

He said: “You attacked your wife with a kitchen knife in your bedroom and continued to pursue her once she escaped at the window where witnesses saw you repeatedly stab your wife before getting your car and running he over. If she had survived she would have been paralysed from the neck down.

“Whatever caused this explosion of violence on that evening we will never know but your jealousy and obsession with your wife’s infidelity was obvious.”

Ms Agyeman was alleged to have been having an affair with their neighbour, Oledapo Etti-Williams, and it was revealed during evidence that the pair had shared text messages daily – 86 times on one occasion.

During October 2012, a family friend brought in a pastor to help reconcile the two, which seemed to work at the time.

The couple made a visit to Liverpool on November 5, 2012, to appeal for a permanent visa for Agyeman to stay in the country.

Adiddo accused Mr Etti-Williams of pointing a gun at his head on the night of the attack which he said resulted in his loss of control and caused him to kill his wife.

In his evidence, Mr Etti-Williams angrily denied the affair with Agyeman and the alleged incident with a gun.

The neighbour came under heavy scrutiny for defence barrister Jonathan Higgs who labelled him a “liar” in his summing up.

Despite pleading not guilty of murder the jury convicted Adiddo of murder on Friday, December 13.

Judge Barker added: “It was a cowardly and selfish act and a shocking waste of a vibrant life. She has been described as an independent and helpful woman who would give financial aid to her father in Ghana. The family is still suffering mentally and financially from this loss.

“The family say they have been betrayed by someone who they welcomed in as a son.”