Wife's plea before she was strangled

The wife of a retired firefighter pleaded "think of the kids and grandkids" before he strangled her after finding out she was leaving him for his best friend, a murder trial heard.

Michael Wathen attacked his wife of 44 years, mother-of-two Margaret, just hours after they had visited a relationship counsellor. She had just called her lover, Alan Thompson, and told him to collect her from their home in Brier Mill Road, Halesowen, after 67-year-old Wathen had ordered her to choose between the two men.

Mrs Wathen, 63, said: "Don't be silly" as he grabbed her by the throat and then added: "Think of the kids and the grandkids" before he threw her on to their bed, according to a police interview read out at Wolverhampton Crown Court. During the interview, Wathen added: "I don't know what I was thinking. It was just a moment of madness, that's all I can say."

A psychiatrist told the trial that Wathen "would have known what he was doing" when he attacked his wife, who worked in the West Midlands Fire Service control centre.

The court heard Wathen, who worked at Northfield Fire Station with Mr Thompson and had also worked in Sandwell, claims he only intended to "frighten" his wife.

He denies murder but admits manslaughter, claiming he was not in control of his actions after hearing his wife's phone call to her lover.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Jay Srinivas said Wathen was suffering from Adjustment Disorder, where a person struggles to come to terms with a dramatic change in their life but that, in his view, he "would have known what he was doing."

Wathen was seen sobbing with his head in his hands during CCTV footage of a police station custody suite.

Moments after strangling his wife on March 2, Wathen dialled 999 and told police: "I have murdered my wife."

The trial continues.