A man who killed his wife within hours of their wedding and hid her body in a suitcase has been found guilty of murder. Thomas Nutt, 45, murdered Dawn Walker, 52, shortly after their wedding on 27 October last year at their home in Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Nutt strangled Walker, then stuffed her body in a cupboard before dumping it in bushes behind their home. He reported her missing on 31 October, claiming they had honeymooned in a caravan in Skegness. CCTV footage showed him wheeling a large suitcase into bushes minutes before police arrived to investigate his missing person report.
Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC said Nutt “knew perfectly well that her body was lying dead in a cupboard at the marital home”. Neighbours later found the suitcase containing Walker’s body and alerted police. Witnesses described the couple’s relationship as “troubled”, with one neighbour reporting seeing Walker with a black eye in 2020.
Nutt confessed to killing Walker, pleading guilty to manslaughter but denying murder. He claimed she had bipolar disorder and wanted a divorce, and that he hit her and put his arm around her neck. However, an examination revealed severe neck injuries indicating forceful pressure. The jury reached a guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Emma Covington said: “What should have been the happiest time of Dawn’s life was instead marked by absolute tragedy.” Nutt will be sentenced on 19 August, facing a life sentence with a minimum term to be set.
