Mum-of-four’s ‘mutilated’ body found buried under pile of clothes after ‘ex-husband knifed and strangled her to death’
A MUM's "mutilated" body was found buried under a pile of clothes after her estranged husband stabbed and strangled her, a court heard.
Jade Marsh, 27, was "moving on" with her life when she was allegedly murdered by "controlling" Russell Marsh.
The 29-year-old night shift worker told his bosses on the night Jade died he needed to leave work early because his brother had attempted suicide.
But he was instead tracked by CCTV, ANPR cameras, and phone masts heading to his former family home in Shotton, North Wales, it was said.
Once there, jurors heard Marsh stabbed then strangled the mum-of-four before telling police he had "done something horrible" and said they would find the Co-op worker dead in her bed.
Police forced their way in and discovered the bedroom door had been secured with a dressing gown cord, it was said.
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The court was told Jade was found in her bloodstained pyjamas buried beneath a pile of clothes on August 26 last year.
A pathology report found she had suffered multiple wounds “across her body” - including her face and arms - and she had grip mark bruises.
There was also evidence of "defensive” wounds sustained around the hands showing she had “made efforts to fight off” her attacker, it was said.
Prosecutor Michael Jones QC said Jade's body had been "mutilated" and her "horrific" cause of death was given as asphyxiation that could only be carried out by another person.
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Jurors heard how the couple had separated on three occasions but split for good in the summer of 2021 following a nine-year relationship.
Jade had started to move on with her life and was allegedly seen kissing another man at a party, which had got back to Marsh.
Marsh denies murder and an alternative count of manslaughter.
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 – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - 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.
