Michael Thompson, 56, has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife Kimberley Thompson, 43, by raping and smothering her at their home in Northampton in the early hours of August 9, 2024. He then staged the scene to make it look like suicide, but a post-mortem revealed no alcohol in her system, only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol, and codeine. Bruises on her hands and arms were consistent with defensive injuries, and injuries to her mouth indicated a hand had been placed over her face. The pathologist gave external airway obstruction as a plausible cause of death.
Controlling behaviour exposed in court
During a six-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, jurors heard that Thompson controlled every aspect of Kim's life, from the clothes she wore to who she spoke to and what she bought. Kim had told friends she was strangled, choked, raped, brutalised, and assaulted. One friend testified that Kim feared Thompson might kill her and 'do it in a way that he hoped he could get away with.'
Miranda Moore KC, prosecuting, described Thompson as 'the walking embodiment of what we in the trade call “the myths”.' She said: 'No one knows what goes on inside of marriage. It is a myth that abused women always report the abuse to the police. It is a myth that they don’t stay with their abusers. Sadly, it is the experience of the court that abused women stay in a relationship, make excuses for the abuser.'
Kim's new life and Thompson's jealousy
Kim had a new boyfriend and was planning to move out, asking for around £65,000 as part of the divorce. Moore said Thompson was 'incensed that she was able to pick herself up and think about a new life without him in it.' After divorce papers were served, 'he wanted her dependant and needy,' Moore told jurors. 'Kim, on the other hand, had changed from the skinny, almost anorexic-looking, fearful, crying – I’m going to use the word wreck. She got fit, she went to the gym – partially I suspect to avoid him, but partially to get fit. She got financially independent and she had found a new and loving partner.'
Friends and family described Kim as the 'happiest' they had seen her in years. She was making plans, messaging family, and arranging flights to visit her daughter at college in the US.
The staged suicide scene
On the night of the murder, Thompson watched sexual videos of Kim, 'stewing' about her moving on. He called 999 just before 6am, claiming he found her unresponsive after consensual sex. Paramedics found Kim with an injury to her mouth, surrounded by empty pill packets, bottles of vodka and gin, and photographs of her and Thompson, as well as a photo of her sister who had taken her own life a decade earlier.
Thompson sent a message from Kim's phone to explain why he had come down for sex, collected items from around the house to stage the scene, and posted on her Facebook and Snapchat accounts saying she had 'drank too much.' Friends became suspicious due to uncharacteristic typos and the fact that Kim was happy and would not have taken her own life.
Verdict and sentencing
Thompson was found guilty of murder, rape, and two charges of perverting the course of justice. Judge Nirmal Shant KC remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing on July 14, when he will be jailed for life. Moore said: 'Mr Thompson killed Kim. He had already raped her and she fought back. Then, realising what he had done, he set about manufacturing a scenario he hoped the authorities would swallow. He sent a message explaining why he had come down to the room for sex. He collected things from around the house to stage the scene – the wedding photograph from the wardrobe in his room, the silver medicine box from his ensuite, bottles from downstairs. And he almost succeeded.'
