A woman has been found guilty of murdering her husband after claiming he fell in their kitchen onto a small knife. Daryl Berman, 72, insisted that the death of her husband, David Berman, 84, was accidental despite sustaining a fatal chest wound in an incident at their residence on Butterstile Lane, Prestwich, in March of the previous year.
Following a retrial at Minshull Street Crown Court due to a hung jury in the initial trial, Berman was convicted of murder. Prosecutors alleged that Berman stabbed her husband without a disclosed motive. The court was informed that emergency services were contacted by Berman at 1:55 pm on March 13, 2025, reporting her husband’s injury, leading to his death at 2:39 pm at their home.
A senior pathologist was later called in after initial concerns raised by another doctor regarding the injury. The pathologist’s report indicated that the stab wound displayed characteristics typical of a homicide, with an accidental fall being deemed highly unlikely to have caused the fatal injury. In addition, Mr. Berman was found to have a defensive wound on his finger.
During the trial, it was revealed that the couple had a loving and supportive 27-year marriage without any history of domestic violence or police intervention. Despite Berman being described as a caring wife, prosecutors highlighted peculiar behaviors exhibited by her following her husband’s death, which were noted by the family.
The court also heard that Mr. Berman had been diagnosed with dementia, used a walking stick, and had experienced breathing difficulties before his death. However, his health was reported to have been relatively stable in the days leading up to the incident.
Berman’s arrest on suspicion of murder came after a post-mortem examination raised doubts about the nature of Mr. Berman’s death. During police interviews, Berman recounted the events leading to her husband’s injury, denying any intentional harm.
Berman’s defense included emotional breakdowns during testimony, denying the accusation of murdering her husband and expressing confusion over the circumstances of his death. She remains in custody pending sentencing on July 3, according to the senior Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.
