A woman who initially claimed her husband had died by suicide following a heated argument has been sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison for his murder. Amy Pugh, 34, portrayed herself as a concerned wife who found her husband Kyle Pugh hanging at their home in Newport, Shropshire, but it was revealed that she had caused his fatal injuries.
Kyle Pugh, 30, sustained severe neck compression, neck structure fractures, a broken nose, and eye socket, leading to his death at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford the next day. During the trial at Stafford Crown Court, it was disclosed that Pugh deliberately delayed calling emergency services after overpowering her estranged husband in a kitchen altercation and assaulting him.
Despite telling the emergency operator that her husband had taken his own life, Pugh’s deceptive actions were exposed. She was convicted of murder and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years and 77 days. The judge, Kristina Montgomery KC, addressed Pugh, acknowledging the toxic nature of their relationship marked by escalating violence and mutual aggression.
The court learned that Kyle Pugh was visiting his children at the family home despite being in a new relationship. An argument ensued between him and Amy Pugh, triggered by revelations about his new partner possibly being pregnant. Pugh falsely claimed that she found her husband hanging in the backyard, but evidence revealed she had inflicted the injuries herself.
The prosecution presented evidence of a history of violence and abuse in the couple’s relationship, fueled by alcohol and substance abuse. Pugh was accused of exploiting her husband’s vulnerabilities and previous suicide attempts for her own gain. In court, Pugh displayed emotions and was described as a victim of past violence from Mr. Pugh.
The defense argued that the fatal confrontation was not premeditated but a result of impaired judgment and lack of control. The judge emphasized the brutality of Pugh’s actions, including the deliberate lies she told to mislead authorities about the circumstances of her husband’s death. The victim’s family expressed profound grief and disbelief over the tragic loss.