South Florida

Man Gets Life for Fatally Stabbing Ex's New Boyfriend

A South Florida man will spend the rest of his life in prison for stabbing and wounding his former girlfriend and killing the new man she was dating.

Local media outlets report that a Palm Beach County judge sentenced Paul Charles on Friday, a month after being convicted of murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutors say Charles went to the home of Vanessa Vandermeeren-Sanchez in March 2013 to kill her because he was angry about her new relationship and an issue with their 5-year-old son. Charles stabbed Vandermeeren-Sanchez 12 times before Matthew Snow intervened. Charles stabbed Snow twice in the chest, and Snow died a week later.

Snow had been a U.S. sailor on his annual 30-day leave from his post in Japan.

Charles testified that Snow attacked first and that he was acting in self-defense.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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