Tearful husband says he’s ‘broken and ashamed’ after admitting killing wife, 30, while their kids were in house
A 28-year-old man accused of the murder of his estranged wife has admitted being responsible for her death and tearfully told a court he was “broken and ashamed”.
Shaun Dyson is accused of the murder of Lucy-Anne Rushton, 30, in the early hours of June 23 by repeatedly jumping or stamping on her at their home in Andover, Hampshire, while children were at the property.
A post-mortem examination found Ms Rushton had suffered 37 broken ribs, a broken breastbone and collapsed lungs.
Dyson admits Ms Rushton’s manslaughter but denies her murder.
Asked by his barrister, Sarah Jones QC, how he felt following her death, Dyson said today: “I feel broken, ashamed, devastated for Lucy, heartbroken for our family. It’s been six months and it doesn’t feel real.”
He said he had known Ms Rushton since they were at school together and the couple married in 2010 when they eloped to Gretna Green.
He said their relationship “always had its ups and downs” but they had split up in January.
Dyson told Winchester Crown Court he had been to a pub in the afternoon with Ms Rushton before they had a drink together in her garden.
He said the mood turned violent between them after they drove to a supermarket but he failed to enter the store before it closed because he had stopped to talk to some friends.
Dyson said Ms Rushton slapped him and also pulled on the steering wheel and handbrake while he was driving.
He said when he stopped the car he “threw the key into Lucy’s head” and swore at her while children in the car were getting upset.
‘TOXIC’ RELATIONSHIP
Simon Jones, prosecuting, has told the jury the couple’s relationship was “toxic” and there was a “history of domestic violence”.
Mr Jones had previously told the trial that Dyson had become “enraged” by a phone call she received from a former lover late on June 22.
He said a child witness had seen the defendant say to Ms Rushton in the early hours of June 23: “Swallow the ring because we are not together any more.”
He added the witness said Ms Rushton had put the ring in her mouth but had not swallowed it because they had seen it on the stairs later, where it was found.
Mr Jones said the child witness had woken up again to see Dyson hitting Ms Rushton and she had a “sad voice” while the defendant was in a “mean mood”.
The jury heard Mr Dyson made a “strikingly calm” 999 call at 5.17am and was asked by an ambulance call handler whether he was performing CPR.
He replied: “I was, but not right now, no, because I [have] been asleep.”
Paramedics arrived to find Ms Rushton’s lifeless naked body on a bed, the court heard.
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Mr Jones said, in February, Ms Rushton had also raised concerns about the defendant and that he “had a bag ready with a change of clothes and weapons”.
He said Ms Rushton’s mother had also witnessed attacks by Dyson, including over Facetime.
Dyson denies murder and the trial continues.
