An “arrogant, controlling bully” who strangled his wife then stabbed her nearly 50 times in front of her young son has been jailed for life.

Kema Salum pleaded guilty to the murder of 35-year-old Leyla Mtumwa at her home and was sentenced to a minimum term of 23 years.

Leyla Mtumwa. Photograph: PA

Salum, 39, who had a history of violence against an ex-wife, was living in Britain on a six-month visa having married Mtumwa in east Africa. The night before the murder on 30 March he had become jealous because his wife had gone out with female friends, the Old Bailey heard.

Just before 7am, he fell into a “violent rage” and attempted to strangle her at their home in Haringey, north London. He then took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her 49 times in the head, neck, body and arms, the court was told.

Mtumwa’s 12-year-old son had pleaded with him to stop before alerting police.

When he was arrested, Salum claimed he had acted in self-defence. He had denied murder but changed his plea in court.

Salum had been “extremely violent” towards his ex-wife in the past, the court heard, and had “lied through his teeth” when he claimed to police he had been defending himself at all times.

The court was told Mtumwa’s parents had been left devastated by her death.

Judge Richard Marks QC described the defendant as an “arrogant, controlling bully”. “This was a consistent attack of very considerable force, which, although relatively short-lived, must have caused Leyla very substantial suffering before she died,” he said.

“Having started off attempting to strangle her you broke off, went to get a knife, and then resumed the attack.”