TACKLE dealer Paul Abbott has been told by a judge he faces a life sentence after pleading guilty to murdering his wife Jackie in a hammer attack.
The couple ran a shop called J&P Fishing Snooker Darts, in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, but tragedy struck when Jackie, 54, was found at her home with serious head injuries last December and died soon afterwards.
An earlier inquest, which can only be reported now, heard how the row erupted after the a row erupted after Paul found out she’d sold tickets to an Elvis Presley tribute act they were due to be attending later that night. She pictured here with an Elvis impersonator.
Neighbours alerted cops after hearing screams, the inquest in February was told.
They found Abbott fighting in the street with his teenage son Martyn, who it is believed had found his mother’s body.
Police then discovered her lying in the back garden with a hammer nearby, the inquest heard.
Elvis gig planned for night of attack
After the inquest, pals said the couple were Elvis fanatics and the walls of their home were plastered with photos of The King.
Friends said Jacqueline had returned home on the Friday afternoon after a week away without her husband. The couple were supposed to be going to the gig that night.
But Abbott flew into a rage when she revealed she had decided she didn’t want to go and had sold their tickets.
Jackie was a big fan of all things Elvis.
Abbott, who wore a grey top and tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name and plead guilty to the charge of murder.
A pathology report revealed the cause of death was blunt force head injuries and that Jacqueline had not consumed any alcohol.
At Wolverhampton crown court, Judge John Wait told Abbott, of Netherton, Dudley, West Midlands, that the only sentence he could pass would be life imprisonment.
But he adjourned the case, saying further information was needed before he could determine the minimum sentence.
The murder shocked their many customers including Angler’s Mail columnist Steve Collett.
This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, very latest big news, best products, and venues that are in form.
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