Justice for Crystal Ratcliffe as de facto Ricky James Cowan sentenced for brutal murder

Ricky James Cowan has been sentenced over a frenzied knife attack in which he brutally killed his de facto partner and the mother of his two children, stabbing her more than 40 times.

MORE than five years after her horrific, brutal death Ricky James Cowan has been sentenced for the 2016 murder of his de facto partner Crystal Ratcliffe.

Cowan, who has been in custody for 1972 days since he killed Ms Ratcliffe in his Woree home on October 13, 2016, appeared in the Cairns Supreme Court on Tuesday – International Women’s Day.

The court heard that in the lead-up to Ms Ratcliffe’s murder, the mother of two was bombarded with communications and visits from Cowan, who refused to accept their relationship of 18 years was over.

On her final morning, Ms Ratcliffe ventured to Cowan’s home to drop off some money to pay for an electricity bill at around 8.30am.

Crystal Ratcliffe, 38, was stabbed by partner Ricky Cowan, 48, in their Woree home.

Justice Jim Henry said Cowan called triple-0 at 2.51pm, where he spoke to an operator in a manner that suggested he was conscious, speaking coherently, and had made a “calculated decision not to reveal the entire truth of what had occurred”.

At some point after killing Ms Ratcliffe, Cowan stabbed himself 10 times in the torso.

An officer who broke in through the window of Cowan’s bedroom discovered Ms Ratcliffe’s body – stabbed 40 times in the chest and neck – on the floor in a space where the bed had moved away from the wall.

The court heard Ms Ratcliffe’s injuries and the way the furniture in the room was positioned was indicative that she had tried to fight off Cowan’s attack.

The officer also found a non-responsive Cowan – though Justice Henry observed that the nature of his injuries was such that it was unlikely he would have been entirely genuinely unresponsive.

The crime scene is still in place at Woomala St in Woree where Crystal Ratcliffe, 38, was fatally stabbed and her partner Ricky Cowan. PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

As all this was unfolding, the couple’s children arrived at the home after walking home from school.

Cowan was not suffering from any psychological conditions at the time, the court heard.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane read aloud two victim impact statements from the couple’s son and daughter, Tyler and Ruby, who were 16 and 13 at the time their mother was murdered.

Ms Ratcliffe’s sister Melissa Ratcliffe also read aloud a victim impact statement.

She described her sister as a brilliant, kind, smart, genuine, hardworking, humble and caring woman.

She said Crystal’s death “colours all aspects of my life”.

In exchange for dropping two charges of rape, Cowan pleaded guilty to the murder on February 25.

Prior to the plea, his trial had been set down to begin on March 7.

Justice Henry said Cowan’s “slaughtering” of his wife had wrought untold impact upon her loved ones.

“Particularly her children, who were for all intents and purposes orphaned by your behaviour,” he said.

Police establish a crime scene at a Woomala Street residence in Woree where 38-year-old woman Crystal Ratcliffe was pronounced dead and partner Ricky Cowan, 48, (pictured being taken to an ambulance, was critically injured, both suffering stab wounds). Picture: Marc McCormack

“Your placing of your existence and your feelings ahead of all others, your determination that you and you alone would possess your estranged wife led you to commit an unthinkable offence upon her.

“It was the ultimate act of selfishness, ending the life of another human being to slake your own self-centred emotions.”

Cowan, through his barrister Joseph Jacobs, apologised for his actions.

But the question of why Cowan did what he did was never answered.

Justice Henry sentenced Cowan to life, with a parole eligibility date after 20 years, declaring 1972 days in custody as time served.

The courtroom burst into applause as Cowan was led from the dock.

Originally published as Justice for Crystal Ratcliffe as de facto Ricky James Cowan sentenced for brutal murder