**Woman Convicted of Murder After Falsely Claiming Husband Died by Suicide**
In a shocking case that unfolded at Stafford Crown Court, Amy Pugh, 34, has been found guilty of murdering her estranged husband, Kyle Pugh, after originally contacting emergency services to claim he had taken his own life. The jury reached its verdict on Thursday after over eleven hours of deliberation, bringing a grim conclusion to a case marked by domestic turmoil and tragic violence.
The events occurred on 22 March 2022 at the family residence on Aston Drive, Newport, Shropshire. On that evening, Amy Pugh placed a call to 999 twenty minutes after what prosecutors described as a violent altercation, alleging that she had discovered her husband hanged at their home. She was heard on the call crying, “Kyle, wake up, why have you done this?”, in what the prosecution argued was a calculated act designed to divert suspicion from herself.
Medical evidence presented to the court painted a different picture. Kyle Pugh, aged 30, suffered significant injuries, including compression of the neck, fractures to the neck’s structure, and breaks to his nose and eye socket. Despite efforts from paramedics, he died the next day, 23 March, at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, surrounded by his family.
Key to the prosecution’s case was the timeline and Pugh’s actions following the violent confrontation. Rather than immediately calling for help, Amy Pugh first contacted her father. Only after this 20-minute delay did she phone emergency services, during which time, prosecutors argued, she attempted to craft a narrative that suggested her husband had died by suicide.
The court heard details of the couple’s volatile history. The relationship, which began in 2012, was initially described by Amy Pugh as passionate, but over the years, it deteriorated into what both parties acknowledged as being abusive and frequently violent. Drink and drugs, the court was told, played a significant role in fuelling their conflicts. Serious injuries had been sustained on both sides throughout the relationship, with Amy testifying that her jaw and arm had been broken by her husband in separate incidents.
On the night of the fatal assault, Kyle Pugh had returned to the home to visit his children. Tensions reportedly escalated when Amy learned that her estranged husband’s new partner might be pregnant. According to Amy’s account, the pair argued, separated, and she later found his body outside, but the prosecution, led by Julian Evans KC, convinced the jury that these claims were an elaborate fabrication to mask the true cause of death.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution cited Amy Pugh’s knowledge of her husband’s mental health history and previous suicide attempts, alleging she deliberately manipulated those vulnerabilities to her advantage. “Her story was a complete fiction,” Mr Evans said, insisting that the evidence pointed directly to Amy as having inflicted the fatal injuries.
The case also raised broader questions about the complexities of abusive relationships where roles of victim and perpetrator are often blurred and both parties may suffer harm. Amy Pugh admitted to retaliatory violence in later years as the cycle of abuse escalated and disclosed heavy use of alcohol and cannabis by both herself and Kyle.
As the verdict of guilty was delivered, Amy Pugh, dressed in a white top and black suit, was visibly shocked, covering her mouth in the dock. Judge Kristina Montgomery KC expressed gratitude to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence and confirmed that sentencing would take place on 5 September.
This tragedy leaves behind a fractured family and two children who have lost both parents to violence and the criminal justice system. The case has reignited debate around domestic violence, highlighting the destructive impact such environments can have on all those involved, and the importance of both intervention and support.
With the case now drawing to a close, questions will continue to be asked about what could have been done to prevent such a tragedy and how similar cases might be handled more effectively in future to break the cycles of violence that can have such devastating consequences.