Businessman who ‘strangled wife with a dressing gown cord
He ‘murdered her so he could see other women’
‘Wanted her out of the way’
A MANIPULATIVE businessman killed his wife with a dressing gown cord because he wanted to pursue other women, a court heard yesterday.
Ian Hamer, 54, allegedly had sex with Joanne, 48, before strangling her in the marital bed and carrying on ‘as if nothing had happened’.
the jury was told that before her death he monitored her every move on social media, jealously accused her of having affairs and assaulted her.
mrs Hamer walked out several times, only to be charmed back to the family home. On other occasions the nurse and mother of three ‘put up with it and suffered in silence’.
the final time she left was weeks before her murder, Hull Crown Court was told. But Hamer is said to have sabotaged her hopes of buying a house and she moved back home to gave their 27-year marriage ‘one last chance’.
Jason pitter, prosecuting, said Hamer was pursuing other relationships and before the alleged murder he messaged another woman to promise she would be ‘dressed in jewels if she met him’.
the QC suggested that Hamer by now wanted his wife ‘out of the way’.
two days later – may 6 last year – Hamer phoned his mother-in-law to say his wife couldn’t speak to her because she had a sore throat and sent their son Jonathan, who lived next door, to get some lozenges. the mother- in- law, valerie Wright, who has since died of cancer, phoned police to say Hamer sounded ‘very strange’ and breathless and she feared he had killed her daughter.
police broke into the house and found mrs Hamer dead in bed, partially naked with the dressing gown cord around her neck. mr pitter said that by then Hamer had gone to the pub, where he played pool, joked and behaved as if ‘without a care in the world’. He drank alcohol and took some
cocaine before his arrest the next day. Hamer explained away cuts to his wrist as a result of being ‘upset and traumatised’.
The jury was told he had ‘some psychiatric issues’ and had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility on the basis he did not understand what he was doing at the time.
The prosecution refused to accept the plea and Hamer is on trial for murder.
Outlining the background to the crime, Mr Pitter said the marriage began to deteriorate at an early stage because of the defendant’s behaviour.
The problem was mostly psychological, the court heard. Mr Pitter said as well as checking on her constantly he monitored his wife’s actions on social media and accused her of having affairs. Mr Pitter said Hamer was also ‘capable of physical aggression’ and police were called a number of times.
Hamer, of Worlaby in north Lincolnshire, was a former shop manager who ran a successful building business.
Jonathan, who worked with his father, said in evidence that Hamer became obsessed with the idea his wife was being unfaithful. He agreed with the
‘Breathless on the phone’
suggestion from Clare Wade QC, defending, that it was ‘like a running sore’ and ‘embarrassing’ to her.
Hamer became upset that her boss at work signed messages with a kiss and about Facebook messages from a childhood friend living in Australia.
Jonathan agreed with Miss Wade when she said: ‘He would go on to her to confess she was doing something improper with these men when she was not. Your mother became exasperated by this.’
Hamer, who had a drink problem, also thought his wife was using a dating app. By 2017 she became concerned for his mental health, believing he was paranoid and thought he should be sectioned.
Asked about his mother’s fears, Jonathan said: ‘She mentioned it on a couple of occasions but when I spoke to him he seemed absolutely fine.’
The trial continues.