The Court of Appeal has refused to interfere in three manslaughter cases which led to sentences described by the Attorney General as "unduly lenient".

Leslie Humes, of Rotherham, Darren Suratan, of Stockport, and Mark Wilkinson from Liverpool were sentenced to combined prison terms of nearly 15 years for killing their partners in separate attacks.

But David Perry, counsel for the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, argued in court that the current level of sentencing for the three did not reflect what a "civilised society" should accept.

Appeal court judge Mr Justice Andrew Smith admitted they were cases of "uncharacteristic and unpremeditated" violence before backing the original sentencing judges.

Stabbed 12 times

Suratan was jailed for three and a half years at Manchester Crown Court in May after being convicted of killing his 33-year-old partner, who suffered a brain haemorrhage after being punched in the head.

Solicitor Humes, 40, was jailed for seven years at Sheffield Crown Court in July after stabbing his wife Madeline 12 times.

Wilkinson, 27, was also convicted of manslaughter by reason of provocation and jailed for four years at Liverpool Crown Court in September after suffocating the 24-year-old mother of his two children.