Husband ‘strangled wife with dressing gown cord’
A MANIPULATIVE businessman killed his wife using 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’.
Jason Pitter, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court 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 Hamer wanted his wife ‘out of the way’.
Two days later – May 6 last year – Hamer phoned his mother-in-law to say his wife could not speak to her because she had a sore throat.
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 he was ‘without a care in the world’.
The jury was told he had ‘psychiatric issues’ and had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
The prosecution refused to accept the plea and Hamer is on trial for murder.
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 that as well as checking on her constantly, Hamer monitored his wife’s actions on social media and accused her of having affairs.
Hamer, of Worlaby in north Lincolnshire, was a former shop manager who ran a successful building business.
His son 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 suggestion from Clare Wade, QC, defending, that it was ‘like a running sore’ and ‘embarrassing’ to her.
The trial continues.