Husband, 71, knifed his wife, 74, to death and called cops to confess killing the tragic mum-of-two
A HUSBAND who knifed his wife to death as she lay in bed told cops he’d “had enough” after killing the mum-of-two.
David Maggs, 71, admitted to fatally stabbing his wife Linda, 74, just weeks before their planned divorce after becoming “obsessed” with the idea she was hiding money from him – but denies murdering her.
He called the police to confess to the killing at their marital home in Pontypool, South Wales, on February 6 last year after their 18-year marriage broke down.
Linda had applied for divorce on the grounds of her husband’s “unreasonable behaviour”, but the pair had both continued living in the £200,000 property.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Maggs had taken two kitchen knives upstairs to his wife’s room, leaving one outside her door before sitting on her bed and asking to talk about their upcoming divorce.
When he wasn’t happy with the response, he allegedly erupted and stabbed her more than 15 times.
Police bodycam footage showed the moment Maggs was arrested as he sat slumped on the sofa before telling the officers: “I’ve had enough. Oh God, I’ve had enough.”
The pensioner then went on to allege that Linda had tried to “steal” from him and believed he was going to lose out financially in their split.
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He claimed: “She tried to steal two houses off me. Two houses for God’s sake.
“I spent five months in hospital last year. She come to see me three times.
“And for the rest of the time, she ransacked the house, got hold of all the paperwork, destroyed all the paperwork and tried to claim on this house as well as the other house.”
The footage was played to the jury alongside a 999 call where Maggs told an operator about the incident at their home.
In the chilling phone call, the retired accountant told the operator: “I’ve just killed the wife.”
Maggs continued: “I stabbed her. I just lost it. Can you just come please? Please help me. Ah, God help me.”
I stabbed her. I just lost it. Can you just come please. Please help me. Ah, God help me.
David Maggs
He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, claiming he “blanked out” and does not recollect the event, but denies murder.
Prosecutor Michael Jones QC previously told the trial Maggs was “particularly agitated by the financial settlement of the divorce and believed he was going to significantly lose out to his wife.”
He continued: “He accused her of taking advantage of him financially and of hiding her own money away.
“He thought she stood to gain financially and in his mind in a dishonest way.”
The couple’s divorce was due to be granted in March 2021, the court heard.
The trial continues.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.