Man Jailed for Raping and Murdering Estranged Wife
Michael Thompson attempted to disguise the death of his estranged wife, Kimberley Thompson, as a suicide at their Northampton home.
A 56-year-old man has been sentenced to a minimum of 33 years in prison after raping and murdering his estranged wife, then staging her death to appear as suicide.
Michael Thompson subjected Kimberley Thompson to prolonged abuse, including physical violence and controlling, coercive behaviour, as detailed during a trial at Nottingham crown court.
The couple had been married for 19 years and shared two children. Despite being separated for two years, they continued to reside in the same house, occupying separate bedrooms.
Jurors were informed that Kimberley Thompson, 43, known as Kim, was preparing to move forward with her life following an impending divorce.
Between midnight and 3:30am on 9 August, Thompson entered Kimberley’s bedroom, where he raped and suffocated her. Subsequently, he arranged the scene to simulate a suicide.
Thompson claimed that the couple had consensual sex before he discovered Kimberley lifeless, surrounded by empty pill packets, bottles of gin and vodka, and photographs including one of her sister, who had died by suicide a decade earlier.
He then posted messages on her social media accounts and called emergency services at 5:30am.
The court heard that Thompson attempted to persuade police and paramedics that Kimberley had taken her own life. However, a postmortem examination revealed no evidence of alcohol and only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol, and codeine in her system.
Friends and family expressed disbelief that Kimberley would have taken her own life, informing police of her plans and the history of domestic abuse.
Michael Thompson was found guilty of rape and murder after a six-week trial. His barrister stated he was “voluntarily absent” during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
In a courtroom filled with members of the public, Judge Nirmal Shant KC addressed Thompson:
You have shown no remorse. Throughout the course of the trial you sat in the dock shaking your head and making audible noises of dissent.
And in the ultimate act of cowardice and contempt, you have refused to come into court to hear from the family of the grief you have caused.
Judge Shant added that she would ensure a bundle of victim impact statements and her sentencing remarks were sent to Thompson so he could understand the devastation he caused.
At least six of the eleven jurors who returned to observe the sentencing wiped away tears as the couple’s daughter, Athena, spoke via video link from the United States. She described her father as a “jealous, conniving, narcissistic villain.”
How could you do such an evil, selfish, malicious thing? How could you murder the mother of your own children? You couldn’t stand the fact she had so many people who cared about her.
No amount of years rotting in prison will ever amount to what you deserve, because you deserve no life. You are a pathetic, unloved man.
Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison, who led the investigation, stated:
Kim had been subjected to domestic abuse for much of her relationship with Thompson, with manipulation, coercive control and physical violence the norm.
Over the years, Thompson stripped Kim’s confidence away, but in the time since their separation friends and family began to see the old Kim re-emerging, with a renewed enthusiasm for life.
Michael Thompson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years. He did not attend his sentencing hearing.
