A woman has been sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison after being convicted of murdering her husband in Manchester. Daryl Berman, 72, was found guilty following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

The victim, 84-year-old David Berman, suffered a fatal stab wound. Initially, Daryl Berman told authorities that the injury was accidental, claiming that her husband had fallen on a knife while carrying her lunch tray in their kitchen. According to her statement, David Berman, who suffered from dementia, reportedly said, "It’s OK, I slipped," before she heard a groan and found him face down and bleeding.

Despite this initial explanation, the prosecution challenged her account after forensic evidence and suspicions around the nature of the wound emerged. A post-mortem examination concluded that the stab wound to David Berman’s chest was inflicted deliberately and was not accidental. Additionally, the victim had sustained a stab wound to his right middle finger, which the court noted is a common injury incurred during self-defense.

Details presented in court indicated rising concerns over the circumstances of the attack, contradicting the defense’s portrayal of an accidental fall. Ultimately, the court ruled that the evidence pointed to deliberate murder rather than an accident.

The case highlights complexities involving vulnerable individuals, as David Berman’s dementia was a factor considered during proceedings. The judge handed down the sentencing after deliberating on the evidence, reflecting the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances surrounding it. Daryl Berman will serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars.