Ex-hockey star ‘hid bloodied clothes in loft after wife’s death’

Police discover hidden bag of blood-stained clothes in loft as ex-hockey star’s murder trial takes shocking turn over wife’s fatal stabbing in Droitwich home.

A former hockey international accused of murdering his wife hid his blood-stained clothing in the loft before dialling 999, a court has heard.

Jurors at Worcester Crown Court were told the garments were discovered only last week — more than a year after 49-year-old Joanne Samak was found fatally injured at the couple’s home in Chestnut Spinney, Droitwich, on 1 July 2024.

The prosecution say Mrs Samak, who had been due to start a new job with an interior design firm later that morning, suffered six stab wounds — five to the front of her body and one to her side or back — and died from a fatal wound that broke her breastbone and pierced her heart.

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Last Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar told jurors that while the fatal injury was consistent with a deliberate stabbing, self-inflicted wounds could not be ruled out. He said the pattern of injuries — “more or less in a straight line” down the front of her body — and the absence of defensive cuts to her hands or arms meant self-harm remained a possibility.

However, Dr Kolar said a third party could also have been responsible if Mrs Samak had been restrained or unconscious at the time. “There is no concrete conclusion,” he told the court, adding that wounds caused by another person “tend to be more haphazard”.

Her husband, Mohamed Samak, 43, denies murder.

Giving evidence in his own defence, Samak told jurors he had been in bed when his wife returned home late that night. He said he saw her on the landing holding a knife and claimed she told him to “leave me alone” and shouted, “I don’t need any help,” before hurrying into the bedroom.

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“My eyes were on the knife, I was really surprised,” he said. “I went straight after her but there was no time. She carried on stabbing herself, moving in very quick motions. I was trying to stop her, then she lost her balance and was screaming from the pain.”