Drama in the courtroom as murderer is jailed

Hajrudin Hasanovic, 34, was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison for killing Cassandra Hasanovic, 24, in July last year.

He dragged her from a car at Normanton Avenue in Bognor Regis and stabbed her in front of their two children and her mother Sharon De Souza.

After Hasanovic was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court, Mrs Hasanovic's family showed their relief in the public gallery. But then Hasanovic turned to the family and burst into a rage, shouting and swearing at them.

Police and security officers had to dive in and bundle him into his cell. One family relative broke down in tears after the drama.

When sentencing Hasanovic, Judge Richard Brown said: 'This is an horrendous act of violence committed in a public place, in full view of your children, the children you claim to care so much about.

'In killing your wife not only have you taken her life but you have deprived those boys of their mother and devastated her family and friends.

'You tried to hide behind a cloak of depression, and did not accept the full consequences of your actions. You didn't even have the courage to give evidence.'

Lewes Crown Court heard Mrs Hasanovic, known as '˜Cassie', had suffered months of physical, verbal and sexual assault at the hands of her husband. The abuse continued until a non-molestation order was made by Chichester Magistrates' Court on April 25.

On July 29 last year Hasanovic stabbed her once in the chest, twice in the back and once in the buttocks. The court heard it was the stab wound to her chest which proved fatal.

The jury of nine women and three men at Lewes Crown Court deliberated for seven hours over two days before they returned their verdict.

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