A man accused of murdering his estranged wife has admitted to killing her.
Russell Marsh told Mold Crown Court he was responsible for the death of the mum-of-four but denies murder because he says he did not intend to kill her. The 29-year-old is accused of leaving the body of his 'mutilated' ex-wife dumped under a pile of clothes in a room sealed shut with a dressing gown cord.
Jade Marsh – who was also known as Jade Ward – was killed at her home in Shotton, Flintshire, on August 26 last year. Marsh, of Chevrons Road in Shotton, was charged with the mum's murder after he was filmed by officers at a police station telling them he had "done something horrible."
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A jury heard how he rocked back and forth in his chair and repeatedly apologised as officers found the mum-of-four’s body at her home, Wales online reports. Prosecutor Michael Jones QC told the court Marsh was working an overnight shift for his employer Bio Energy in Ellesmere Port on the night 27-year-old Ms Ward was killed.
He said the defendant had told his supervisor that he had to leave several hours into his shift and claimed his brother had taken an overdose and needed to go to hospital. The prosecutor said this was 'completely untrue' and instead 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. Marsh is alleged to have attacked Co-op worker Ms Ward with a knife before strangling her and then handing himself into police the next day.
Police forced entry to the property and found Ms Ward in the location he indicated but covered with a pile of clothing. The door was also "secured with a dressing gown cord", he trial heard. A pathology report detailed how she suffered multiple wounds "across her body", including her face and arms, while grip marks left her bruised and there was evidence of 'defensive' wounds sustained around the hands showing she had "made efforts to fight off" her attacker.
Prosecutor Mr Jones said the pathology expert determined Ms Ward’s "horrific" cause of death was concluded as asphyxiation that could only be carried out by another person. Mr Jones said her body had been 'mutilated.'
On Monday, April 4, Marsh went into the witness box and gave evidence. While being questioned by his barrister Christopher Terhani QC the defendant accepted he killed Ms Ward by way of asphyxiation and had no lawful reason for doing so.
However he denied having any intent to kill or cause Ms Ward serious harm. The case, being heard by Judge Rhys Rowlands and expected to last two weeks, continues.
