Dad who beat wife to death is jailed for life

A man who bludgeoned his wife to death with a crowbar and denied it to police moments later has been jailed for at least 20 years.

David Pomphret hit partner Ann Marie over the head 30 times with the weapon near the stables the couple owned in Burtonwood, Warrington.

The 51-year-old dad-of-one was found guilty of murder last week at Liverpool Crown Court after his "web of deceit and lies" fell apart.

He burned his blood-soaked sweatshirt, threw the murder weapon in a pond and disposed of his other clothes after the vicious attack.

The killer also swapped his and his wife’s cars around and sent a number of text messages apparently showing apparent concern about her.

Pomphret denied murdering his wife, 49, who was undergoing cancer treatment, for months before finally admitting he was responsible - brazenly lying during 15 police interviews.

The sickening murder happened on November 2 last year.

It was a speck of blood found on his socks, which he forgot to change, that secured his conviction.

Judge Aubrey QC told the killer, the Manchester Evening News reports: “You intended to kill her and I am satisfied that is so.

”It was a brutal and sustained attack perpetuated upon her. It was a ferocious attack causing catastrophic injuries.

”She had defensive injuries to both her hands and she must have been pleading and begging for it to stop.

“You didn’t. You continued to strike her and then left her there on the path.

“A family has been destroyed. A daughter has lost her mother.

“Murdered by her father who is about to commence a sentence of life imprisonment.”

Pomphret was told it would be 20 years before he can be considered for parole.