Man jailed for "shocking" hammer attack
Man jailed for 25 years for trying to murder his heavily pregnant partner with a hammer
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By Matthew Champion. |  |
Wednesday, 14, Oct 2009 04:00
By Richard James.
A man has been jailed for 25 years for trying to murder his heavily pregnant partner in an attempt to benefit from her will.
Simon Morris attacked Nerys Price, 35, while she slept at their home in Prestatyn, Wales, in August last year.
The 37-year-old was convicted of attempted murder and attempted child destruction at Mold crown court.
The court heard how Morris struck his partner in the head with a hammer and attempted to make it look like a burglary gone wrong.
It is claimed he stood to receive several hundred thousand pounds following her death and had been the "driving force" behind the couple changing details in their wills.
Sentencing him, Judge Merfyn Hughes said: "The jury have convicted you on the basis of compelling evidence. To have tried to kill your partner within just a few weeks of her giving birth is, in my opinion, quite a shocking and aggravating feature.
"It was a wicked and callous attempt to rid yourself of a partner who was willing to have your child and who had done nothing but give you love and affection."
Following the attack, Ms Price was taken to hospital and later gave birth by emergency caesarean section to her daughter. Both have now made a full recovery.
Morris had earlier been tried in May but the jury failed to reach a verdict.
Today he was jailed for 25 years for the attempted murder of Ms Price and a further 25 years, to be served concurrently, for the attempted destruction of his daughter.