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Ann Marie Pomphret bludgeoned with crowbar, court told | |
(about 13 hours 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. |
Ann Marie Pomphret was found at stables she and husband David owned in Warrington, Cheshire, on 2 November. | Ann Marie Pomphret was found at stables she and husband David owned in Warrington, Cheshire, on 2 November. |
Liverpool Crown Court heard the 49-year-old was struck more than 30 times. | Liverpool Crown Court heard the 49-year-old was struck more than 30 times. |
Mr Pomphret, 51, denies murder but admits manslaughter due to a "loss of self-control". Prosecutors told the court: "It may be loss of temper, but not loss of control." | Mr Pomphret, 51, denies murder but admits manslaughter due to a "loss of self-control". Prosecutors told the court: "It may be loss of temper, but not loss of control." |
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. |
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. | 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." | "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 faced longstanding "vocal and sometimes violent" abuse from his "highly volatile" wife. | Mr Pratt said the Barclays bank worker faced longstanding "vocal and sometimes violent" abuse from his "highly volatile" wife. |
He said the jury would hear evidence from the couple's 18-year-old daughter, who describes her father as "her rock" and says her mother used abusive language towards her. | He said the jury would hear evidence from the couple's 18-year-old daughter, who describes her father as "her rock" and says her mother used abusive language towards her. |
'Totally lying account' | 'Totally lying account' |
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 next day and initially denied any involvement. | The defendant was arrested the next day and initially denied any involvement. |
Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, told the jury he had given "a totally lying account" of what had happened. | 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. | 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." | "That is one, perhaps the, main issue. We say this is a case of murder." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |