Husband ‘strangled wife with dressing gown cord’

A “CONTROLLING and manipulative” businessman strangled his wife to death with her dressing gown cord before going to a pub to drink and take cocaine, a court has heard.

Ian Hamer is accused of murdering his wife of 27 years, Joanne Hamer, who was found lying partially clothed on a bed at their home in Worlaby, North Lincolnshire, in May last year.

Hamer, 54, has admitted manslaughter – saying his mental state at the time was such that he did not understand what he was doing – but denies murder.

Jason Pitter QC, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury at Hull Crown Court that the Hamers’ marriage began to deteriorate at an early stage due to Hamer’s behaviour.

He said Hamer would control what his wife wore, check up on her and monitor her interactions on social media.

He was also physically aggressive towards her, and “heavyhanded” with their three children, and the police had been called to their home on a number of occasions, the jury was told.

In the weeks leading up to her death, Mrs Hamer had either moved out or been thrown out of the marital home and was considering buying another property.

On May 6, 2019, Hamer called his mother-in-law to tell her that his wife would not be contacting her as she had a sore throat.

Mr Pitter said Mrs Hamer’s mother later called police because she was concerned that “something terrible may have happened to her daughter”.

He said: “She was tragically correct. She had been strangled and killed by the defendant.”

The trial continues.