Concert pianist ‘ killed by jealous husband’
A CONCERT pianist was thrown down the stairs and killed by her jealous husband on their second wedding anniversary, a court heard yesterday.
Natalia Strelchenko, 38, was allegedly attacked by John Martin, 48, a Norwegian double bass player, after he became envious because ‘her career had taken off, while his had not’.
On August 30 last year, Miss Strelchenko spent the afternoon recording songs with friends, before returning home with them in the evening.
Martin became angry with the worldrenowned pianist, and the pair argued before he wandered to the bottom of the garden and began drinking.
Later he left the house and sent a text to a friend which read simply: ‘ Hopeless’, before returning home and attacking his wife with such force that her jaw bone snapped, it was alleged.
He denies a charge of murder and told police he couldn’t remember a single event from the evening.
Opening the case at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Rob Hall, prosecuting, said: ‘ This is quite simply a case of anger. Pure and simple anger.
‘This defendant was not getting what he wanted and reached a point where he lost his temper in a very dramatic fashion.’
He said Martin and Miss Strelchenko, also known as Natalia Strelle, had a tempestuous relationship.
‘It was marked by tension,’ he said. ‘Natalia complained he controlled her and was very jealous – made worse by the fact her career had taken off, while his had not.
‘They would also argue regularly about financial affairs and who should keep the house clean. Those arguments and tensions would on occasion reach a high level.’
Police had previously been called to the couple’s house in Manchester to deal with an incident, the court heard. In the weeks leading up to Miss Strelchenko’s death, she had left the marital home. Martin texted an acquaintance asking for him to intervene – telling him: ‘She drives me crazy’ – and the pianist returned to the house.
The court heard that on the day of their wedding anniversary, the couple argued and Martin went to the garden shed and began drinking cider on his own before Miss Strelchenko and her friends persuaded him back into the house.
Later that night he went out, sending a text to a friend saying ‘hopeless’ then another text to another friend, saying: ‘I’ve felt completely lonely all summer – Natalia’s kept me at a distance since November 2014’.
He returned home and allegedly threw her down a flight of stairs before beginning to strangle her. A musician friend who was staying in the house fled in fear and police were called.
Officers found Miss Strelchenko lying unconscious near the stairs. She had suffered horrific fractures to her face and skull as well as serious neck injuries, and despite efforts by paramedics she was later pronounced dead.
Martin, who was found in an upstairs bedroom, repeatedly told officers: ‘Kill me, kill me’ as he was arrested and taken away.
But the following day he claimed to have no knowledge of what had happened, saying: ‘I don’t remember anything.’
Miss Strelchenko was a renowned solo pianist who made her concert debut at 12 with the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. She moved from Russia to Norway before moving to Manchester where she met Martin in 2010. Martin also denies trying to murder a boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, on the same date. The trial continues.
‘Pure and simple anger’