A 71-year-old woman is standing trial in the United Kingdom, accused of murdering her 84-year-old husband with a kitchen knife after writing “bye bye” with kisses and a heart in a household calendar on the same day he died. Prosecutors allege the killing was staged as an accident, while the defendant insists her husband slipped and fell onto the knife.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
The case centers on the March death of David Berman, who was found in the kitchen of the couple’s home with a knife lodged near his right armpit. His wife, Daryl Berman, initially told police that the fatal injury occurred accidentally while she was eating a sandwich and her husband offered to carry a tray into the kitchen.
According to court testimony reported by the Manchester Evening News, Daryl Berman said she heard what sounded like a stumble or fall, followed by a groan, before discovering her husband lying face down on the floor.
The Calendar Entry That Raised Suspicions
One of the most striking pieces of evidence presented in court involved a handwritten calendar entry made on the same day David Berman died.
“It has got ‘bye bye’ and it has got two kisses, and it has got a heart,” Daryl Berman testified. She told the court she wrote it at the end of the day, after everyone had gone and before going to bed.
Prosecutors argue the timing and wording of the note raise serious questions about whether the death was truly accidental.
What the Defendant Told Police
In recorded police interviews, Daryl Berman described finding her husband face down, making a “gurgling” sound, with what she initially believed was gravy on the floor.
“I sort of looked down, moved his head a bit, and I thought, ‘what on earth is all this gravy? We don’t have gravy,’” she allegedly told officers. She later realized it was blood and said she was shocked by the amount.
Emergency dispatchers instructed her to perform compressions, but when asked where her husband was bleeding from, she said she did not know.
Lying Beside the Body
After the death was initially treated as an accident, police left David Berman’s body in the home while waiting for an undertaker. During this time, Daryl Berman told the court she lay down next to her husband’s body at least four times.
“I lay down next to David,” she testified through tears. “I kissed him and I stroked his arm. I did it quite a few times.”
Prosecutors did not dispute that these actions occurred but suggested they were unusual given the circumstances.
Medical Evidence Challenges Accident Claim
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on forensic evidence. A medical examiner who performed the autopsy testified that the explanation of an accidental fall onto the knife was “inconceivable.”
Dr. Philip Lumb, the forensic pathologist, told the court that accidental knife stab wounds are extremely rare and that David Berman’s injuries were inconsistent with such a scenario. He also noted the presence of a defensive injury on one of the victim’s fingers.
“I personally have not come across one,” Dr. Lumb said, referring to accidental fatal knife wounds.
No Motive Publicly Identified
Authorities have not publicly identified a clear motive for the alleged killing. There has been no suggestion of financial gain, prior violence, or marital breakdown presented in open court so far.
When asked directly during testimony whether she killed her husband, Daryl Berman responded, “Absolutely not.”
What Happens Next
Daryl Berman remains charged with murder, and her trial is scheduled to continue this week as additional witnesses are expected to testify. Jurors will be asked to determine whether David Berman’s death was a tragic accident or a deliberate act disguised as one.
The case has drawn significant attention in the UK due to its disturbing details and the emotional testimony surrounding the calendar entry and events following the death.
Share your thoughts or experiences with similar court cases in the comments below.
