A WIFE stabbed her husband to demise and buried him within the backyard after recording her abuse in opposition to him, a courtroom heard.
Maureen Rickards, 50, allegedly knifed husband Jeremy, 65, within the chest and thru the guts at residence in Canterbury, Kent.
She then stuffed Jeremy, who was carrying simply his underwear, in a cabinet of their bed room, it was mentioned.
Canterbury Crown Courtroom heard Rickards then wrapped her husband up in bin baggage and transferred him to the backyard the place she buried him below grass cuttings.
Jeremy was reported lacking by household and buddies after he was final seen alive on June 7.
Jurors have been instructed Rickards despatched WhatsApp messages to their daughter Chima pretending to be her dad and claimed he was in Saudi Arabia.
She later allegedly instructed Chima that Jeremy had taken his personal life on June 9.
His physique was found on July 11 after police investigating his disappearance seen a “sickly odor” within the backyard.
The courtroom was instructed within the lead-up to his demise, Jeremy was seen in a “battered and bruised” state by a taxi driver and workers at his native pub.
Prosecutor Nick Corsellis KC mentioned Rickards had subjected her husband to home abuse, which turned “extra extreme” in his last days.
After her arrest, police discovered voice recordings on her telephone taken as she berated her “frail and weak” husband whereas he lay confused on the ground, it was mentioned.
The courtroom was instructed that in a single recording, Rickards could possibly be heard “voicing her intent to hurt and kill”.
On June 6, a neighbour noticed Jeremy “profoundly” injured with a lower to his brow and bruises to his eyes and ears.
When requested what occurred, he allegedly replied: “Maureen was in a nasty temper with me and with everybody.”
The geologist was reported lacking the next day after he was seen returning residence from work.
Police visited the house however discovered “no hint of [his] existence” – with Rickards claiming the pair have been separated.
Jurors heard she additionally instructed them she had not spoken to Jeremy “for weeks” however was arrested for fraud after she used his financial institution playing cards.
Rickards allegedly bought alcohol, cigarettes, Doritos, rest room paper, Febreze air freshener, and Vanish carpet shampoo along with his cash.
When she was re-arrested after Jeremy’s physique was discovered, she requested officers: “Homicide? Homicide? Did you say homicide? Discovered what physique?”
Police later discovered Jeremy’s DNA on bloodstains on the carpet, the courtroom heard.
Rickards’ DNA was additionally found on the bin bag the place his physique had been wrapped up.
A submit mortem revealed Jeremy had suffered 5 stab wounds – two 11cm deep – in addition to a number of fractured ribs, a fracture to a bone in his neck and a damaged nostril.
There was additionally a “sharp drive” stab wound to his head wherein steel fragments have been current.
Mr Corsellis mentioned: “The Crown counsel that the quantity and the extent [of injuries] discovered rule out any practical suggestion that Jeremy Rickards had suffered a tragic accident or certainly that these wounds have been self-inflicted.
“There may be [also] proof of earlier accidents in line with Mr Rickards having been a sufferer of illegal assault up to now.
“The Crown’s case is that Mr Rickards had been the topic of extreme home abuse by the hands of the defendant within the lead-up to this homicide.”
Rickards denies homicide between June 7 and July 11 final 12 months.
The trial continues.
LinkedinMaureen Rickards allegedly knifed her husband to demise[/caption]
Kent PoliceJeremy was discovered buried below grass cuttings[/caption]