Murder accused man 'portrayed wife as alcoholic'

A man accused of murder portrayed his wife as an alcoholic as part of a "character assassination" to support his "lies" that she took her own life, a court heard.

Mohamed Samak, 42, claims he woke up in the early hours to see his wife Joanne Samak, 49, stabbing herself at their home in Chestnut Spinney, Droitwich Spa.

Prosecutors have told Worcester Crown Court that Mr Samak, who denies murder, killed his wife, at about 03:00 GMT on 1 July last year, because he had financial problems and was interested in another woman.

The jury has also heard the couple were sleeping in separate bedrooms, with Mr Samak saying he missed the "romance" in their relationship.

The court heard how Mr Samak, a hockey coach, did not call the emergency services until 70 minutes after Mrs Samak suffered six stab injuries, including one to her abdomen and a fatal wound to the heart.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said Mr Samak's claims that his wife was an alcoholic were made up to support the defendant's lies that her wounds had been self-inflicted.

"A pathologist told us her liver was basically normal and didn't have any signs of long-term alcohol abuse," Mr Sandhu said.

"The evidence of her friends is that she enjoyed a drink but wasn't a drunk.

"It is part of a character assassination in an effort to support your lying account about how she died."

Mr Samak denied that and told the court his late wife's drinking habits had increased after the Covid-19 pandemic and in the last year.

"When you see bottles on the side and bottles in the fridge, you worry about your wife. I shared [my concerns] with her brother," the defendant said.

On Friday, Mr Sandhu put it to Mr Samak he had not called the emergency services after Joanne sustained the knife wounds because he "wanted her to die".

Mr Sandhu rejected claims Mr Samak did not know the emergency number to call, especially because he had called 999 months before his wife's death to report a car accident he had been involved in on 17 March, 2024.

However, Mr Samak said: "I never called the ambulance before. I was going through a lot."

He told the court he knew he was wrong for not making "any call", but he was "panicking and didn't know what to do."

He also admitted he did not carry out "proper" CPR on his wife, despite being fully qualified to do so because of his job and his previous role as a lifeguard, and having a first aid kit in the bedroom.

The trial continues.

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