Crowbar murder accused ‘deserved a medal’
A BANK worker accused of murdering his wife with a crowbar ‘deserved a medal’ for ever putting up with her, his mother-in-law has told a court.
David Pomphret, 51, bludgeoned his wife Ann Marie, 49, after he finally snapped from all the abuse he suffered, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
Pomphret, a technology expert with Barclays, struck her head with the crowbar more than 30 times at the stables they owned near the home they shared with daughter Megan, 18, in Warrington, Cheshire.
He admits killing his wife on November 2 last year, but denies murder on the grounds of a temporary loss of control. He was a ‘quiet man’ who finally snapped, the jury of seven women and five men has been told.
Carol Buckley, the victim’s mother, said in a statement read to the jury: ‘David was an angel. He deserved a medal for putting up with Marie. I could not have wished for a better son-in-law or dad for Megan.’
On November 2 last year Pomphret rang 999 claiming to have found his wife lying in a pool of blood at the stables. He said: ‘There is brain and blood everywhere, and it looks like she has had her head beaten in.’
He was arrested the day after and before being released but was rearrested six months later and charged with murder.
A post-mortem examination concluded that his wife died from a violent assault, with severe head injuries caused by more than 30 blows to her head with a crowbar.
Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, told the jury Mrs Pomphret’s death was not through a temporary loss of control but due to his ‘loss of temper’, adding that it was a case of murder.
The trial continues.