What's the Beef?

Stourton man accused of killing wife in row over overcooked beef

A STOURTON man is on trial accused of killing his wife during a row over how she had cooked the roast beef for his birthday dinner. Warwick Crown Court heard Jonathan Wicks complained that his wife Sarah had overcooked the beef and that triggered a row. He says he was acting in self-defence when he struck his wife after she had thrown plates at him.

“The act was a punch or a slap, but we say it was unlawful and it was violent, and he had no lawful reason to do it.” The dinner party was held to celebrate Wick’s birthday, one guest described their hosts as ‘a devoted loving couple,’ but said they could be cantankerous with each-other although nothing which could be described as vicious. The court heard how Sarah prepared roast beef, and during the meal there was some upset between them.

Wicks complained the meat had been overcooked, which upset Sarah, on top of which she had bought him a present he was planning to take back. Within half an hour of the guests leaving, Wicks made a 999 call. “It is likely he struck his wife moments after the last guest left because he said in the 999 call his wife had stopped breathing and was on the floor.”

When paramedics arrived Sarah was on her back on the kitchen floor, with broken plates on the floor and Wicks crouched down opposite the door He pleaded with them to do something to help her, and said: “What have I done? I’ve killed her. I hit her.” Mr Burbidge told the jury he had panicked and had driven away to Long Compton for about 20 minutes and then returned. He continued: “She was throwing plates at me and I hit her. Oh my God, what have I done? “It should be me lying there. Just hit me with a blunt object.” The trial continues.

It is a crime to eat overcooked roast beef.