A man who fled to Jamaica after killing his estranged wife more than 12 years ago has been jailed for six years.

Delroy Washington Lynch, 49, of Kingston, Jamaica, stabbed Zoe Lynch nee Dubois, 20, and carried her bloodied, unconscious body out to a waiting minicab.

At the time of the incident, Lynch lived in Durrington Towers, Clapham, and Zoe lived in nearby Victoria Rise.

Lynch, also known as Noel Carl Michael Armstrong, arrived at Zoe's flat shortly after noon on August 17, 1995.

He stabbed her in her upper right thigh and she became unconscious within minutes.

Two men came to give assistance to Zoe as Lynch carried her to the cab and one of them called an ambulance.

Lynch walked off and Zoe was taken to hospital where she died three days later without regaining consciousness.

Officers found blood stains that indicated Zoe sustained the injury that killed her on or near the bed in the second floor, one bedroom flat where she lived.

A bloodstained weapon was found near the bed and was the same brand as a number of kitchen knives found at the flat occupied by Lynch.

The victim's flat was under renovation and there was no kitchen cutlery.

Lynch's fingerprints were found on the minicab and on men's clothing in a black bin liner in the car.

Despite police appeals for Lynch to come forward, he was not located but the investigation remained open.

Attempts were made over the intervening years to locate Lynch in this country, in Jamaica and the USA through Interpol.

These attempts proved fruitless until in August 2005, when police received information that Lynch had been arrested on an unrelated matter in Kingston, Jamaica.

He was extradited and arrested at Gatwick Airport on December 14.

Lynch was found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in January.

He was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter with intent at a trial held in August 2007.

DI Anthony McKeown said: "This case demonstrates the commitment by the MPS to pursue those who are guilty of crime.

"Zoe was only 20 when she died, she would now be 32 if she had lived. Lynch is a violent man who stabbed Zoe and walked away, running to Jamaica to avoid responsibility.

"I hope this goes someway to reassuring the public the Met is commited to ensure those responsible of serious crime will be held accountable for their actions.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in ensuring that Lynch has been put before the courts and the support of Zoe's family throughout this painful process."