Julie Connaughton,57, was killed by her 60-year-old husband David Connaughton (Picture: Ross Parry)

A husband researched murder on the internet before killing his wife with a hammer and stabbing himself to death, a coroner has heard.

Jilted David Connaughton, 60, had searched on google: ‘When someone p***** you off, is it worth killing them?’

He had discovered his wife of nine years, Julie Connaughton, 57, was planning to divorce him before the brutal attack at their Chesterfield home.

His wife suffered more than 20 blows to her head in the brutal hammer attack, a post-mortem found.


The carer then placed three plastic bags over her head before stabbing himself 28 times, the Derbyshire Times reports.

‘We knew Julie and David were having marital problems and were almost leading separate lives,’ said Det Con Tony Owen, of Derbyshire Constabulary.



‘We were aware she had started a new relationship and from speaking to family David had anxiety and was concerned he was losing Julie and would be made homeless.’

The corner ruled Mrs Connaughton’s death in August 2013 was a result of an unlawful killing and Mr Connaughton’s was a result of suicide.