A jealous husband who strangled his wife to death in her bed was found covered in blood and snoring on the floor. Michael Davies, 58, murdered Tracey Davies at their home in Bridgend on April 18, after returning from his security job in Abu Dhabi just a week before. A jury at Newport Crown Court unanimously delivered a guilty verdict on Friday.
Murder at Bryn Terrace
Tracey was found lying face down and lifeless on her bed while Davies was found with wounds to his own neck, inflicted with a knife after strangling his wife. He had complained to family and friends of suffering from mental health issues the week before the murder and expressed feelings of jealousy about his wife.
The court heard that Davies admitted manslaughter but denied murder. Family members became concerned after not hearing from the couple and attended their home at Bryn Terrace, Cefn Cribwr, where a man was able to gain entry. Prosecutor Mark Cotter KC said the man was met by the smell of death and saw Tracey was dead, with her colour drained, appearing yellow and grey.
Davies described the killing
Davies was found with a laceration to his neck and a wound to the left side of his chest. He was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and later interviewed. He said: "I just found myself on my knees, putting my knees on her shoulder, putting my hands on her neck and started squeezing her neck."
He added: "I had no understanding of what was going on in my hands to the woman I loved but I just wanted to keep strangling her." The jury retired at 12.03pm on Thursday and returned just before 11am on Friday with a guilty verdict.
Life sentence to follow
Judge Daniel Williams told Davies: "You have been convicted by the jury of the murder of Tracey Davies. The only sentence available to the court in those circumstances is a sentence of life imprisonment." He was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on October 2.
