An Australian man pleaded guilty to strangling his estranged wife to death while giving her a neck massage on Valentine's Day.
53-year-old Jeffrey James Godfrey pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection to the death of his estranged wife, 46-year-old Vanessa Godfrey, in Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday, according to 9 News. reported PEOPLE.
The couple, who had been married for nearly three decades, continued to spend time together despite being separated and had been staying at Pelican Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast celebrating a friend's birthday when Vanessa was killed, People reported.
While on the trip, Jeffrey was unable to locate his driver's license and Medicare card, believing they were taken by Vanessa. He later reportedly asked her if "his whole life had been a lie."
On the morning of Valentine's Day, Vanessa requested a neck massage from Jeffrey, after which he strangled her with his arm. He then proceeded to cut her arms, as well as his own arms, with a knife after mistakenly thinking that he saw her breathe. He took valium tablets with alcohol, and the couple were later discovered in their room by hotel staff.
Jeffrey later admitted to killing his wife, stating that he believed "no one else would figure it out."
While initially charged with murder as a domestic violence offense, the charge was decreased to a manslaughter charge after Jeffrey was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis. According to prosecutor Matthew Le Grand, Jeffrey had been a methamphetamine user for over a decade, giving him a sense of paranoia.
"[My father] almost broke me," said the couple's daughter, Olivia Godfrey, in her victim impact statement.
"I lost my beautiful mother to my father's horrible choices," she continued. "This horrific crime has continued to haunt me."
Olivia also stated that her mother's death impacted her life "in every way possible."
Godfrey is set to be sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Originally published by Latin Times.
