Defence challenges abuse claims in murder trial

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife has been urged by the defence to examine "actively dishonest" allegations of abuse carefully.

Kimberley Thompson, 43, was found by police at a property in Pinewood Road in Northampton on 9 August last year.

Michael Thompson, 55, of Pinewood Road, has gone on trial charged with her rape and murder.

During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, KC Jonas Hankin, speaking for the defence, said of the claims of abusive behaviour made by Kimberley Thompson to friends and colleagues were "actively dishonest".

The prosecution claimed Thompson was coercive and controlling throughout the relationship, monitoring what his wife "did, ate, where she went and who she was with".

It also alleged he had a financial motive for the killing.

But Hankin described that claim as "far-fetched" and said prosecutors had presented a "one-dimensional portrait" of his client.

He told jurors Thompson was "a quiet, hard-working family man who kept himself to himself", and said he had tried to save the marriage before later asking for a divorce.

"The allegation is made by Kim, not by [the witnesses] who came to give their evidence before you in good faith," he added.

Hankin said the jury needed to decide whether those claims were reliable, arguing there was evidence she had previously "weaponised" a false abuse allegation and had been shown "not just to be wrong but to be actively dishonest".

"If you are not sure, your duty is to acquit," Hankin told the jury during his closing speech.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard Thompson told emergency services he had found his wife dead, surrounded by tablets and alcohol bottles.

Prosecutors allege the scene had been staged.

A post-mortem examination found no evidence of alcohol in Kimberley Thompson's body and only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol and codeine.

Thompson denies murder, rape and two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC is expected to begin summing up the evidence on Wednesday.

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