Daryl Berman, a 72-year-old woman from Prestwich, has been found guilty of murdering her husband David Berman by stabbing him in the chest at their home on Butterstile Lane in March 2025. The jury rejected her claim that the fatal wound was accidental, and she now faces a life sentence.
Incident and Emergency Call
On March 13, 2025, at 1:55 PM, Berman called 999 to report that her husband was injured. Paramedics and police arrived to find David Berman lying on his back on the kitchen floor. He was pronounced dead at 2:39 PM. When a police officer spoke to Berman, she immediately asked, 'You don't think I've murdered him, do you?'
Berman's Account of Events
Berman told officers she was in another room when she heard a stumble and a fall. She said she found her husband face down in the kitchen, with a large amount of blood that she initially mistook for gravy. She claimed she did not know how the injury occurred, suggesting a knife on a tray might have accidentally stabbed him. 'I really don't know what's happened,' she said.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutor Michael Brady KC argued that Berman deliberately stabbed her husband 'for a reason known only to her.' Initially, her explanation was accepted, but a senior pathologist, Dr. Philip Lumb, later determined that the stab wound had 'typical features of a homicide' and that an accidental fall was 'very unlikely to have caused the fatal wound.' This led to her arrest.
Trial and Conviction
During the trial, Berman gave evidence in her defence and repeatedly broke down in tears. She described cradling her husband's head and telling him she loved him after his death. When asked if she murdered him, she replied, 'Why would I do that to the man I love? No.' However, the jury convicted her of murder after deliberating.
Sentencing and Reaction
Berman was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on July 3. Sazeeda Ismail, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Daryl Berman stabbed her husband of 27 years in the chest and intentionally caused his death. She lied to paramedics, police and family members when she claimed Mr Berman had accidentally sustained his fatal injuries. The jury saw through her lies and convicted her of murder, due to the strength of the prosecution's case. My thoughts are with David Berman's loved ones at this very difficult time.'
