Hockey coach guilty of murdering wife in Droitwich home

Former Egypt hockey star Mohamed Samak found guilty of murdering wife Joanne after claiming she stabbed herself in the heart at their Droitwich home.

A former international hockey player who claimed his wife fatally stabbed herself in front of their five-year-old child has been found guilty of her murder.

Mohamed Samak, 43, denied killing his wife Joanne Samak, 49, at their home in Chestnut Spinney, Droitwich Spa, in the early hours of 1 July 2024. He told jurors she took her own life after returning home late that night, insisting he woke to find her “stabbing herself in very quick motions”.

The prosecution said Samak murdered his wife following months of tension, financial strain and a rekindled relationship with another woman. They told Worcester Crown Court he later hid bloodstained clothing in the loft before dialling 999 more than an hour after Joanne suffered six stab wounds — five to her front and one to her side or back.

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The jury heard Joanne’s fatal injury broke her breastbone and pierced her heart. Forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar said the pattern of wounds, “more or less in a straight line” down her torso, initially left open the possibility of self-infliction, but expert evidence later concluded that the force required to penetrate her chest bone made that scenario “highly unlikely”.

When police entered the couple’s semi-detached home, they found Joanne unresponsive beside the bed. Samak was described as calm and composed, later telling officers he believed his wife had taken her own life. His clothing was seized, but the court heard he had failed to mention that he had hidden other garments in the attic. Those bloodstained clothes — including a jumper — were discovered only a week before the end of the trial, more than a year after Joanne’s death.

Samak told jurors he panicked when he realised his jumper was covered in blood and used a sock to remove it without touching the stains. He said he feared he would be blamed and decided to conceal the items. “My head was telling me to put it away because I was going to get the blame,” he said. “I was terrified.”

Jurors were shown bodycam footage from the first officers at the scene and heard Samak’s 999 call, made at 4.10am. He told the operator he had found Joanne slumped on the bed with a knife in her stomach after going to the bathroom. The court heard that despite being first aid trained, he ignored instructions to begin CPR.