Head accused of killing wife and new love
A FORMER headteacher has appeared in court charged with murdering his estranged wife and her new love in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Rhys Hancock is accused of stabbing Helen Almey and Martin Griffiths to death after finding out about the couple’s relationship on Boxing Day.
Emergency services were called to the property PE teacher Ms Almey, 39, previously shared with Hancock, also 39, in Duffield, Derbyshire, at around 4am onWednesday.
Watchdog
Despite the efforts of paramedics, Ms Almey and Mr Griffiths, a 48year-old company director of a marketing firm, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Hancock, of nearby Etwall, yesterday appeared at Southern Derbyshire magistrates court charged with two counts of murder.
Wearing a black suit and open-neck white shirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, address, age and nationality.
Hancock, who was head of a special school until December 2018, confirmed he had been living at his mother’s address 10 miles from
Duffield. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Derby Crown Court on Monday. Prosecutor Jeanette Stevenson said officers found Mr Griffiths dead when they arrived at the scene and tried to resuscitate Ms Almey for 15 minutes. Hancock was arrested at the property after he dialled 999. On Thursday family members paid tribute to “beautiful and bubbly” Ms Almey and adventure-mad Mr Griffiths, a father of two.
Ms Almey and Hancock’s children – aged nine, seven and four – were not believed to have been in the house at the time of the attack.
Derbyshire Police said the force had referred itself to the police watchdog over contact they had with Ms Almey prior to her death.
It is understood officers were called to her semi-detached home over the Christmas period after she rang 999 for help.