A six-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard how Michael Thompson, 56, had subjected 43-year-old Kimberley Thompson, his wife of 19 years, to years of domestic abuse, including controlling, coercive behaviour, and physical violence.
They had been separated for two years, but still lived at the same Northampton address using different bedrooms, and jurors were told that Ms Thompson was planning to move on without him as their divorce was finalised.
The court heard how Thompson went into her bedroom in the early hours of 9 August last year, and raped and suffocated her. He then staged the scene to make it look like she had taken her own life.
Speaking after the guilty verdicts were delivered on 8 July, Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison said Ms Thompson had been subjected to “horrific” abuse over a two-decade period.
DCI Thompson added: “It became clear throughout our investigation that 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.”
Thompson was also found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice.
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