A jealous and controlling man who murdered his estranged wife and staged the scene to look like suicide is facing a life sentence. Michael Thompson, 56, raped and smothered Kimberley Thompson, 43, at their home in Northampton in the early hours of August 9 last year. He then gathered photos, pill packets, and alcohol bottles to manufacture evidence of suicide before claiming he woke to find her dead.
Controlling behavior exposed in court
Jurors at Nottingham Crown Court heard Thompson controlled every aspect of Kim's life, from the clothes she wore to who she spoke to and what she bought. Kim told friends he strangled, choked, raped, and assaulted her during their marriage. She confided that she feared he might kill her and 'do it in a way that he hoped he could get away with.'
Police and paramedics initially believed Thompson's charade, but a post-mortem found no alcohol in Kim's body and only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol, and codeine. A pathologist noted bruises on her hands and arms consistent with defensive injuries, and injuries to her mouth and gums from a hand being placed over her face. External airway obstruction was given as a plausible cause of death.
Kim's new life threatened Thompson
The trial heard Kim was in an unhappy marriage but had a new boyfriend and was planning to move out. She had requested around £65,000 as part of their divorce. Prosecutor Miranda Moore KC said Thompson felt 'entitled' and was 'incensed that she was able to pick herself up and think about a new life without him.'
'After the divorce papers were served, he wanted her dependant and needy,' Moore told jurors. 'Kim, on the other hand, had changed from the skinny, almost anorexic-looking, fearful, crying – I'm going to use the word wreck. She got fit, she went to the gym, she got financially independent and she had found a new and loving partner.'
Friends and family described Kim as the happiest they had seen her in years. She was making plans, messaging family, and arranging flights to visit her daughter in the US.
Thompson's attempt to cover up the murder
On the night of the murder, Thompson watched sexual videos of Kim, 'stewing' about her moving on. He called 999 shortly before 6am, claiming she had sent a sexually explicit text and they had consensual sex before he found her unresponsive. Paramedics found Kim with a mouth injury, surrounded by empty pill packets, vodka and gin bottles, and photos of Thompson and her sister, who had died by suicide a decade earlier.
Thompson sent a message from Kim's phone explaining why he came to her room for sex and collected items to stage the scene. However, friends became suspicious after seeing uncharacteristic posts on Kim's Facebook and Snapchat accounts that morning, including a typo and wording unlike her. They insisted she would not have taken her own life because she was happy and looking forward to her future.
Moore told jurors: 'Mr Thompson killed Kim. He had already raped her and she fought back. Then, realising what he had done, he set about manufacturing a scenario he hoped the authorities would swallow. He sent a message explaining why he had come down to the room for sex. He collected things from around the house to stage the scene – the wedding photograph from the wardrobe in his room, the silver medicine box from his ensuite, bottles from downstairs. And he almost succeeded.'
After a six-week trial, Thompson was found guilty of murder, rape, and two charges of perverting the course of justice. Judge Nirmal Shant KC remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing on July 14, when he will be jailed for life.
