The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
‘ I THINK I HAVE KILLED MYWIFE’
Jury hears of shocking phone call with murder accused
A husband beset with money troubles told his boss in a chilling phone call ‘ I think I’ve killed my wife’, a jury heard . Michael Carroll ( 60) denies the murder of his wife Liz. The prosecution alleges he strangled his 64- year- old wife at their home in Kings Road, Fletton, Peterborough.
Aman charged with murder told his boss he could not turn up for work because he had killed his wife, a court has been told. Michael Carroll of Kings Road, Fletton, Peterborough, is accused of killing his wife. Elisabeth at their home on May 24 last year.
Her body was discovered in the living room after Carroll told his boss: “I think I’ve killed Liz.”
Carroll pleaded not guilty to murder at a previous hearing.
Thetrial started last week at Cambridge Crown Court, and the jury were told how Carroll’s colleagues at Mac Print Finishing, where he worked as a laminator for 11 years, had described the 60- year- old as being stressed and very quiet in the two weeks leading up to Mrs Carroll’s death.
Mac Print Finishing senior partner, Vernon MacFarlane said: “About two weeks prior to this incident he was quite nervous. Hewasn’t a happy man because he said he had problems with his mortgage.
“He said he had been to the bank and he had been told he had to pay £ 75,000 back in five years.
“I made an appointment for him to go and see Citizens’ Advice, but he did not go.
“He had got to the stage where he found it difficult to
Kenneth Ridparr
“He said ‘ I’ve messed up. I’m going to lose my home’ and ‘ I’ve let Liz down’.”
communicate with people.
“He just kept saying £75,000 over and over.
“On May 23 he seemed to be talking to people again, and I thought he was coming out of whatever he had been through.
“He was still not himself, but I thought he was getting better.”
He added that at one point he had been so worried about Carroll he had sent him home from work, and contacted Mrs Carroll – which he had never had to do in the previous 11 years Carroll had worked at the small printing firm.
Mr MacFarlane said he had been shocked when Carroll said he had killed his wife, and did not believe she was dead.
He said: “On May 24 I got to work late because I had been to the dentist.
“I arrived at 9.45 a mand saw Michael’s bike was not there.
“He is normally punctual
boss he was killed my wife’ and turns up. I phoned him, and he was hyperventilating. He was not speaking clearly.
“He said he was not very well. I said he should go and see a doctor, but hesaid ‘ It’s too late for that. I think I’ve killed Liz’.
“I asked if he had called police or the ambulance and he said he hadn’t.
“I didn’t believe she was dead. I was very shocked.”
The court also heard from Kenneth Ridparr, a dye- maker at Mac Print Finishing, who had worked with Carroll for eight years at the firm, which is based in Sabre Way, Fengate, Peterborough.
He said: “He was generally a decentbloke. Reliable, aconscientious worker. He was a little set in his ways, a little old fashioned, but that isn’t a badthing. He was quite talkative.
“But in the weeks leading up to May 24 he changed. We were in the canteen one day, and he was upset and clearly distressed.
“Hestarted to talk about his mortgage. He said ‘ I’ve messed up. I’m going to lose my home’ and ‘ I’ve let Liz down’.
“Afterthathewasadifferent person. I’ve neverwitnessedanything like it. He wasn’t talking toanyone, hewasn’tresponding to people.
“But on Wednesday, May 23 it did seem like he was improving.
“He collected the lottery money from everyone which he had not done for a couple of weeks.
“I thought he was getting to grips with whatever was troubling him.”
Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, told the court Angus MacFarlane, Vernon’s brother and another senior partner in the firm had called the police, who attended the address with an ambulance crew shortly after 10am.
Mr Jackson said: “Police knocked on the door. He answered wearing his pyjamas.
“Hesaidhehadstrangledhis wife Elisabeth at about 7am. He did not say why he had done it.
“If he had done it at 7am, then three hours had gone by. Hehadnotpickedupthephone to summonhelp, to call medical services. He had not gone next door to raise the alarm.
“He was t hen t aken t o Thorpe Wood Police Station, where he was interviewed under caution. He gave a no comment at interview.”
Mr Jackson said i t was likely Carroll would be using the diminished responsibility defence, which, if successful, would reduce the murder charge to manslaughter.
The trial continues.