The “toxic relationship” trope is one we see all over TikTok and TV, but the case of Cordelia Farrell is a chilling reminder of what happens when red flags turn fatal. It’s a story that has gripped true crime fans for years, not just because of the violence, but because of the hauntingly thin line between a high-drama romance and a crime scene.
When Farrell plunged a kitchen knife into her partner, Wayne Coventry, in 2019, it didn’t just end a life; it shattered a family and left three children without a father.
With the case being revisited in the second series of ITV1’s Murder on a Knife’s Edge, which aired in February 2026, viewers are getting a deeper look at the upsetting story.
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This is what we know about the case and where Cordelia Farrell is now?
Who is Cordelia Farrell and what happened to Wayne Coventry?
The tragedy began when Wayne Coventry, a 37-year-old father of three from Bromsgrove, met Cordelia Farrell. While the relationship appeared to start like any other, it quickly turned into what police and family described as a “toxic” and volatile situation.
The tipping point came on 14 October 2019. During an altercation at Wayne’s brother’s home in Humphrey Avenue, Farrell picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Wayne once in the chest.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Wayne died at the scene.
In a move that shocked the local community, Farrell fled the house and remained on the run for several days before eventually handing herself in at a police station in Birmingham.
Was Cordelia Farrell convicted of murder?
When the case reached Worcester Crown Court in October 2020, the central question for the jury was one of intent. Farrell denied murder, claiming during the trial that she had acted in fear. She told the jury, “As much as you go through your ups and downs I still loved the man. Why would I want to kill him?”
However, the prosecution painted a different picture, detailing a history of violence. The court heard that just a month before the fatal stabbing, Farrell had attacked Wayne in a separate incident involving a piece of broken crockery.
Ultimately, the jury found her not guilty of murder but convicted her of the alternative charge of manslaughter. She was also found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) for the earlier attack.
Where is Cordelia Farrell now in 2026?
On 22 October 2020, Cordelia Farrell was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison. This included a 10-year term for manslaughter and an 18-month sentence for the ABH charge, to run concurrently. At the time of sentencing, she was informed she would have to serve at least two-thirds of that sentence before being eligible for release.
As of early 2026, Cordelia Farrell remains behind bars. Having served over five years of her sentence, she is currently in the latter half of her time in custody. While Wayne’s family stated at the time that the verdict provided a “small sense of closure,” the impact on his three children and parents remains a central theme of the recent ITV documentary.
When will Cordelia Farrell be released from prison?
Based on the “two-thirds” rule applied to her 10-year sentence, Farrell’s earliest potential release date is expected to fall in late 2027 or early 2028. Following her release, she will likely remain under strict license conditions for the remainder of her sentence term. For now, she remains within the UK prison system, while Wayne’s family continues to advocate for awareness surrounding domestic abuse.
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