A former headteacher has appeared in court charged with murdering his estranged wife and her new partner in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Rhys Hancock, 39, is accused of killing Helen Hancock, also 39, and Martin Griffiths, 48, at their former marital home in Duffield, Derbyshire.
Helen Hancock, a PE teacher, who referred to herself by her maiden surname of Almey on social media, and Griffiths, a marketing director, were found with multiple stab wounds.
Derbyshire police referred itself this week to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), after admitting it had been in contact with Helen Hancock in the days before her death.
Helen Hancock called officers after being threatened at the property she had once shared with Rhys Hancock, the father of her three children, aged nine, four and three. It is understood they were staying with a grandparent at the time of the later incident.
Wearing a black suit blazer and white shirt, he appeared at Southern Derbyshire magistrates court for a 10-minute hearing on Friday.
Flanked by security officers, Rhys Hancock spoke only to confirm his name, age and nationality.
When police arrived at the property, officers went to a bedroom where they found the body of Griffiths and the “gravely injured” Helen Hancock. Paramedics tried for 15 minutes to save her, the court heard.
Rhys Hancock was remanded in custody to appear at Derby crown court on Monday.
Paying tribute in a statement issued by police earlier this week, Helen Hancock’s family said: “The family are devastated at the loss of Helen, who was a lovely, beautiful, friendly, bubbly and social person.
Griffiths’ family also paid tribute, saying: “Martin was a lovely dad, husband, son, brother and uncle, who had a passion for adventure, running and a love of animals.”
