Michael Thompson, 56, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years for the rape and murder of his estranged wife, Kimberley Thompson, 43, at their home in Northampton in the early hours of 9 August 2025.
Thompson, who was unanimously found guilty of murder, rape and two counts of perverting the course of justice, refused to attend his sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court. His defence barrister Jonas Hankin KC told the court he was voluntarily absent. The court heard that Thompson had subjected Kimberley to years of domestic abuse and controlling behaviour during their 19-year marriage. The couple had two children and divorce proceedings were under way at the time of the killing.
A post-mortem examination found no alcohol and only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol and codeine in Kimberley Thompson's system. The couple's daughter Athena addressed the court via video-link from the United States.