Wolverhampton man sentenced to life for raping, murdering Helen Kempster

Rahul Sharma, 32, has been sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison after being convicted of the brutal rape and murder of Helen Kempster in Wolverhampton. The attack occurred on June 16, 2022, lasting at least 15 minutes, during which Sharma inflicted extreme violence, including punches, kicks, and throttling, while telling Kempster she was going to die. Despite denying responsibility and claiming diminished capacity, forensic evidence linked him to the crime, leading to his conviction after a three-week trial. Judge Michael Chambers described Sharma as 'extremely dangerous' and highlighted the chilling nature of the attack that left Kempster with severe injuries, including multiple broken ribs and a brain hemorrhage. Sharma has also been placed on the sex offender register for life, following his sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court. The case has drawn attention to the issue of violence against women, particularly vulnerable individuals such as sex workers.