Man who manipulated young child into helping him murder his wife has sentence increased

Robert Rhodes was convicted of murder in an extremely rare retrial, having walked free from the Old Bailey first time around in 2017 (Picture: Central News/PA/Surrey Police)

A husband who recruited his young child to help him ‘get rid of mummy’ has had his murder sentence increased after it was deemed ‘unduly lenient’.

Robert Rhodes, 53, slashed his wife Dawn’s throat at their home in Redhill, Surrey, on June 2, 2016, but walked free from the Old Bailey 11 months later after claiming he acted in self-defence.

His story of being attacked by Dawn was backed up by their young child, whose name, age and sex cannot be reported for legal reasons.

They claimed she lunged at them both, slashing the child’s arm before stabbing Rhodes in the back.

Dawn was blamed for her ...