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Husband, 71, stabbed wife to death then told police after she filed for divorce

Watch: 999 call and arrest footage of murder accused David Maggs

A husband stabbed his wife more than 15 times before dialling 999 and confessing to killing her after she told him she wanted to end their marriage.

David Maggs, 71, was heard telling the emergency operator what he had done after mother-of-two Linda, 74, told him she wanted a divorce.

Maggs stabbed Linda Maggs as she lay in bed, believing he was going to lose out financially in their split.

The 999 call was played to the jury at Cardiff Crown Court where Maggs told an operator about the attack at their home.

David Maggs confessed to killing wife Linda Maggs after she asked for a divorce. (Wales News)
David Maggs confessed to killing wife Linda Maggs after she asked for a divorce. (Wales News)

In the call, retired accountant Maggs says: "I've just killed the wife."

The operator replies: "You've just what sorry?"

Maggs repeats: "I think I've just killed the wife".

When the operator says, "Your wife is it?" Maggs says: "I stabbed her".

Linda Maggs was in bed when her husband David Maggs stabbed her more than 15 times. (Wales News)
Linda Maggs was in bed when her husband David Maggs stabbed her more than 15 times. (Wales News)

The operator then asks Maggs if he still has the knife with him he says no and goes on to tell her Linda Maggs is in bed.

When asked if she is still breathing or talking Maggs can be heard crying saying: "I don't know I just lost it."

He then says: "Can you just come please. Please help me. God help me."

Linda and David Maggs remained living together while apart in their £200,000 marital home. (Wales News)
Linda and David Maggs remained living together while apart in their £200,000 marital home. (Wales News)

Later in his police interview, Maggs told officers: "Thirty years I've been married to her and she doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut, so I topped her."

Prosecutor Michael Jones QC previously told the trial Maggs went into his wife's room armed with two large kitchen knives and repeatedly stabbed her in her bed.

Jones said: "He was particularly agitated by the financial settlement of the divorce and believed he was going to significantly lose out to his wife.

"He accused her of taking advantage of him financially and of hiding her own money away.

David Maggs confessed to killing his wife to the 999 operator and police. (Wales News)
David Maggs confessed to killing his wife to the 999 operator and police. (Wales News)

"He thought she stood to gain financially and in his mind in a dishonest way."

The court heard the couple's decree nisi was due to be granted in March 2021 but they had remained living together while apart in their £200,000 marital home when Linda Maggs was killed.

Maggs, of Sebastapol, Pontypool, denies murder but admits manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The trial, expected to last around four weeks, continues.