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'Quiet' husband bludgeoned wife with crowbar 'Quiet' husband bludgeoned wife with crowbar
(about 1 hour later)
A husband who beat his wife to death with a crowbar was "a quiet man who finally snapped" a court has heard. A husband who beat his wife to death with a crowbar was "a quiet man who finally snapped", a court has heard.
The body of 49-year-old horse lover Ann Marie Pomphret was found at stables she and husband David owned in Burtonwood, Warrington, Cheshire, on 2 November.The body of 49-year-old horse lover Ann Marie Pomphret was found at stables she and husband David owned in Burtonwood, Warrington, Cheshire, on 2 November.
Liverpool Crown Court heard she had been struck more than 30 times.Liverpool Crown Court heard she had been struck more than 30 times.
Mr Pomphret, 51, of Masefield Drive, Warrington, admits manslaughter due to a "loss of self-control" but denies murder.Mr Pomphret, 51, of Masefield Drive, Warrington, admits manslaughter due to a "loss of self-control" but denies murder.
The court heard Mrs Pomphret's injuries were consistent with the use of a crowbar recovered from a nearby pond.The court heard Mrs Pomphret's injuries were consistent with the use of a crowbar recovered from a nearby pond.
'Highly volatile' wife'Highly volatile' wife
Richard Pratt QC, defending, said: "What happened was this is a case where a quiet man finally snapped and unhappily he was a quiet man with a tool in his hand. It was a crowbar. It led to him repeatedly striking his wife over the head with a crowbar."Richard Pratt QC, defending, said: "What happened was this is a case where a quiet man finally snapped and unhappily he was a quiet man with a tool in his hand. It was a crowbar. It led to him repeatedly striking his wife over the head with a crowbar."
Mr Pratt said the Barclays bank worker had been the model of restraint despite facing longstanding "vocal and sometimes violent" abuse from his "highly volatile" wife.Mr Pratt said the Barclays bank worker had been the model of restraint despite facing longstanding "vocal and sometimes violent" abuse from his "highly volatile" wife.
The family lived on Masefield Drive, Warrington, and also owned some nearby land on Old Alder Lane, where they kept horses.The family lived on Masefield Drive, Warrington, and also owned some nearby land on Old Alder Lane, where they kept horses.
On 2 November Mr Pomphret rang 999 claiming to have found his wife lying in a pool of blood at their stables after becoming worried she had been away from home for longer than expected.On 2 November Mr Pomphret rang 999 claiming to have found his wife lying in a pool of blood at their stables after becoming worried she had been away from home for longer than expected.
He told the call-handler: "There is brain and blood everywhere, and it looks like she has had her head beaten in."He told the call-handler: "There is brain and blood everywhere, and it looks like she has had her head beaten in."
The defendant was arrested the day after and initially denied any involvement.The defendant was arrested the day after and initially denied any involvement.
But Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, told the jury he had given "a totally lying account" of what had happened.But Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, told the jury he had given "a totally lying account" of what had happened.
He said: "We say this is not loss of control - it may be loss of temper - but not loss of control. That is one, perhaps the, main issue. We say this is a case of murder."He said: "We say this is not loss of control - it may be loss of temper - but not loss of control. That is one, perhaps the, main issue. We say this is a case of murder."
The trial continues.The trial continues.