A man killed his ex-wife in a "brutal and sadistic attack", a court was told.
The murder trial of Russell Norman James Marsh, who is accused of killing Jade Ward, began at Mold Crown Court on Monday (March 21). Marsh, who worked in Ellesmere Port, denies the murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. The 29-year-old, listed as living at Chevrons Road in Shotton, Flintshire, stood in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt and jeans, reports NorthWalesLive.
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Prosecutor Michael Jones told the jury that Jade Ward was found dead at her home, where she raised her four sons, in August 2021. She had sustained "horrific" injuries across her body before being asphyxiated and left covered with a pile of clothes. The court heard that Marsh was working an overnight shift for his employer in Ellesmere Port on Thursday, August 26, the night that Ms Ward was killed.
Mr Jones said Marsh told his supervisor that he had to leave several hours into his shift, claiming his brother had taken an overdose and needed to go to hospital. This was "completely untrue", the court was told by Mr Jones. He said Marsh was tracked by CCTV, ANPR cameras and phone masts heading into North Wales and arriving at the former family home in Shotton.
Mr Jones said the couple had separated on three occasions, but they had split in the summer of 2021. He said close friends and family members heard Ms Ward saying that this time the separation was "for good".
Ms Ward had allegedly shared a kiss with another man at a party and was "moving on" with her life. This information made its way back to Marsh who was described in court as being "controlling" over his partner.
Mr Jones said that Marsh would call Ms Ward "regularly" when they were not together and would make a habit of turning up at her workplace at the Co-op on Central Drive in Aston, Cheshire, which was less than five minutes from their former home. Marsh "refused to accept" that the relationship was over, and had been heard saying words to the effect of "if I can't have her, nobody can", said Mr Jones.
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Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rogers conducted a report after examining Ms Ward's body, and said she suffered multiple injuries "across her body", including slashes across her face and arms as well as stab wounds. Ms Ward had some "defensive" wounds present, specifically around the hands, showing that she "made efforts" to fight off her attacker, the court heard. Grip marks left her with bruises around her throat.
Mr Jones said the expert determined Ms Ward's "horrific" injuries concluded with her suspected cause of death, which is believed to be asphyxiation. He added that this could only be carried out by another person. Marsh was said to have taken the children, who were present in the house when Ms Ward died, to his parent's home in Blacon, Cheshire. The next day, he handed himself in to the police and said "something terrible" had happened.
The court heard that Marsh left Ms Ward's body "mutilated" and later made claims that her "dreadful" injuries were the result of a "sadomasochistic sexual request". This, however, has never been proven, said the prosecutor.
Mr Jones said this was not, as the defendant tried to convince the police, a "loving encounter". Instead, it was a "brutal and sadistic attack" launched against a woman Marsh saw having "the audacity" to move on with her life, he said.
The trial continues at Mold Crown Court. It is expected to last up to two weeks.
