The judge who sentenced Marcin Zdun to a minimum of 34 years behind bars believes he was lying when arguing he couldn't remember killing his wife and daughter.

The 40-year-old supermarket worker was today (December 18) jailed for life for the murders of Aneta, also 40, and Nikoleta, 18, at their home in Wessex Road, Salisbury.

On the afternoon of June 1, Zdun stabbed them both multiple times before cutting their throats in front of his younger children who now suffer from "nightmares".

Both Aneta, a support worker at Wessex Care and Wiltshire College student Nikoleta died from the "catastrophic" and "non-survivable" injuries they sustained.

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How Salisbury murder trial unfolded

'You knew perfectly well what you had done'

Throughout the two-week trial at Winchester Crown Court, the defendant, previously described by his wife as a "psycho", accepted killing Aneta and Nikoleta but claimed to have no recollection of the attack.

Before passing sentence, Mr Justice Chamberlain said: "Having seen you give evidence, I am sure that this was a lie.

"You knew perfectly well what you had done. That is why you did not ask why you were being detained or arrested but instead said that you were 'mentally incompetent' in an attempt to evade responsibility for these murders."

Salisbury Journal: Police at the scene of the double murder on Wessex Road on June 1.Police at the scene of the double murder on Wessex Road on June 1.

The second lie

During the trial, the court also heard about an incident of domestic violence which led to the defendant being kicked out of the family home.

Aneta told a friend that on April 3 Zdun strangled her and pushed Nikoleta to the floor when she intervened to stop him.

She said to her: "I really couldn't breathe, I was so blue."

Giving evidence in court, the Tesco worker who worked nights in the store on Southampton Road, denied strangling his wife.

Instead, he claimed he just "shook her a bit on the floor" and told the jury the incident wasn't serious.

Today, the judge said this claim is also "a lie". It was the defendant's attempt to play down his violent behaviour towards his wife and daughter which was driven by possessiveness, jealousy and anger.

He added: "The incident was so serious they insisted you leave the house and you worried that they would go to the police and get you deported."

'It is clear you wanted to kill them'

His loss of control over the family and his unfounded beliefs Aneta was cheating on him with a colleague of his angered Zdun.

Ultimately, they led him to murder his wife and daughter on a sunny summer day - just two days after agreeing to a divorce.

Neighbours and workmen alerted by the sound of "children screaming in terror" witnessed the "horrific spectacle" as the defendant stabbed Aneta and Nikoleta who both died at the scene.

Mr Justice Chamberlain said: "Given the number and nature of the injuries, and the manner in which they were inflicted, it is clear that you intended to kill both Aneta and Nikoleta, not merely to cause them really serious harm.

"No other conclusion is possible."

Zdun has been sentenced to life in prison. He will serve a minimum of 34 years behind bars.