DAVID Pomphret has been found GUILTY of murdering his wife Ann-Marie.
A jury has unanimously convicted the 51-year-old of murder at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Friday.
Pomphret, of Masefield Drive in Winwick, bludgeoned his 49-year-old wife to death by hitting her over the head more than 30 times with a crowbar at the couple’s stables on Old Alder Lane in Burtonwood in November last year.
An executive at Barclays in Knutsford, he had earlier admitted manslaughter – but pleaded not guilty to murder ‘due to a loss of control’.
‘Quiet and calm’ Pomphret killed the mum to his teenage daughter – known to friends and family as Marie – after leaving her with ‘catastrophic’ head injuries at around 8pm on Friday, November 2, before dumping the weapon in a pond.
The court has heard over the past two weeks that the attack was set against the background of a volatile marriage, and that the defendant had suffered verbal and physical abusive at his wife’s hands.
VIDEO > Watch the moments after husband has brutally murdered his wife
A panel of seven women and five men found Pomphret guilty after 10 hours and 42 minutes of deliberations, having first retired to consider its verdicts on Wednesday afternoon.
READ > Pomphret murder investigation was one of the biggest in Cheshire Police history
Wearing a grey jacket and a blue checked shirt, he showed no emotion as the foreman delivered the verdict.
Judge David Aubrey will sentence him back at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, October 15.
The judge told Pomphret: “You have been convicted by a jury of the crime of murdering your wife.
“There can only be one sentence, a sentence of life imprisonment.
“I will determine the minimum time that you must serve before being considered as eligible for release by the parole board on Tuesday morning.”
Judge Aubrey also thanked the jury for their efforts over the past two weeks.
READ > How a family's normal day of shopping ended with a brutal killing
He added: “You have carried out your duties with care and attention throughout your jury service.
“Can I thank you on behalf of the courts service – the courts could not operate without you jurors.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
READ > Detective: 'He must have thought he was going to get away with it'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel