AN Amesbury man has been found guilty of murdering his wife.

A jury sitting at Winchester Crown Court returned a guilty verdict on Friday after hearing that James Roy Simister, 49 stabbed his wife Deborah in the neck at the home they shared in Maple Way in April last year.

Despite the court being played a 999 call in which Simister told the operator he had stabbed 45-year-old Deborah and thought she was dying, he claimed in court to have no memory of the attack.

The couple had been married for five years had a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse.

On the evening of Monday, April 8 they had a violent argument which resulted in Mrs Simister receiving fatal knife wounds by her husband.

Police and paramedics found her with extensive wounds to her neck and defence wounds to her hands. She was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital but later died.

Mrs Simister had been trying to improve her life and had been receiving help for her alcohol dependency. She had told friends and family that she wanted to separate from her husband. She was planning to leave her husband the next day and go to stay with her elderly father for a few weeks. Her bags were already packed.

Speaking after the trial, DS Pete Ritson of Wiltshire Police said: “Tragically, Roy Simister’s actions that night deprived Debbie of that chance to leave and continue making positive changes in her life.

“The outcome today may not bring much comfort to Debbie’s friends and family but we hope that they feel justice has been done. Our thoughts are with them, and most importantly, her children at this very difficult time.”

A statement from Mrs Simister’s family said: “We are happy with the verdict and the fact that he was found to be guilty, but no amount of imprisonment will bring back our precious Debs.

“She was the heart and soul of our family and now that she is no longer with us, we are completely torn apart. All generations have been affected, not to mention that she will never see her beautiful grandchildren grow up.

“Heaven has gained an angel and she will always live on in our hearts. Now it is all over we can finally put it all to rest and move forward.”

Simister is due to be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Monday.