A HUSBAND stabbed his estranged wife to death with scissors because he was obsessed with money, a court heard.
Raymond Hoadley was “frustrated” because he wanted to sort out a divorce from his wife Jacqueline (Jackie) Hoadley, a prominent disability rights campaigner, a jury was told.
The Eastbourne couple were married for 25 years before their relationship hit the rocks.
They had two adopted children together, Matthew, 16, and Eleanor, nine, who both have complex disabilities and need round the clock care.
Hoadley wanted Jackie, 58, to accept ownership of their £300,000 family home at Broad Oak Close, prosecutors said.
They said he wanted to pocket the rest of their £1 million savings, including the £310,000 medical compensation money for their disabled daughter Eleanor, aged nine.
A witness heard Hoadley, apparently talking on the phone, saying: “I want to f***ing kill you, I want to strangle you.”
About a month later Jackie was found dead at her home with “catastrophic” injuries, including seven stab wounds to her face and neck.
Jackie’s blood was found soaked through her bed, pillows and duvet, and spattered throughout the bedroom.
Hoadley’s blood was also found at the horrific scene.
At Hove Crown Court it was revealed 62-year-old Hoadley had longstanding mental health problems and had once tried to overdose on pain relief pills belonging to Matthew.
Caroline Carberry QC opened the case and said Hoadley is alleged to have killed Jackie between July 3 and July 5 last year.
Jackie had suffered stab wounds and there were signs she had been strangled.
A post-mortem examination also revealed she defended herself and also had blunt force injuries to her face and chest.
Ms Carberry revealed how Hoadley was “preoccupied” with saving money, to such an extent that he had even started shoplifting because he did not like supermarket prices.
“You may well find as we go through the evidence in this case that money had something to do with the motivation for the murder,” she said.
A distinctive silver van driven by Hoadley, the only vehicle of its type registered in the Eastbourne area, was captured on CCTV approaching Jackie’s home.
Ms Carberry said: “Mrs Hoadley had last been seen alive by her daughter’s carer, Mrs Morley, when she left at 6pm the day before. There was no sign of forced entry to the house.
“It is the prosecution case that she was murdered by her estranged husband Raymond Hoadley.”
She said Hoadley went to the beach in Eastbourne to dump the murder weapon, a pair of scissors.
In the early hours of the morning Hoadley also used the washing machine and dryer.
Ms Carberry said: “His attempts to cover up didn’t end there. He called his dead wife’s mobile phone and on three occasions he left messages enquiring where she was as, according to him, they had a plan to meet.
“The subterfuge continued when at 11:55am on Sunday, July 5 he called the emergency social services duty telephone line and spoke with social worker on duty.
“He said that he was phoning about child contact and that he needed to report that Jackie and their daughter, Eleanor, hadn’t showed up.”
Hoadley, of Willowfield Road, Eastbourne, denies murder. The trial continues.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article