Michael Thompson was this week sentenced to a minimum of 33 years in prison after being found guilty of raping and suffocating his estranged wife, before trying to cover up his crimes08:49, 19 Jul 2026The last few moments of Kimberley Thompson's life must have been terrifying. She was killed by the man who had subjected her to years of domestic abuse, before raping and suffocating her, and then staging the scene to make it appear as though she had taken her own life.This week, Kimberley's estranged husband Michael Thompson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years in his absence after he refused to enter the courtroom. Sentencing the coward on Tuesday in front of a packed public gallery, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: "You have shown no remorse."Throughout the course of the trial you sat in the dock shaking your head and making audible noises of dissent. And, in the ultimate act of cowardice and contempt, you have refused to come into court to hear from the family of the grief you have caused."The judge said she would make sure a bundle of all the victim impact statements and her sentencing remarks would be sent to Thompson so he could "read of the devastation you have wreaked".The trial revealed the horrific ways in which twisted Thompson attempted to hide his crimes after raping and suffocating Kimberley, 43, sometime between midnight and 03:30 BST on 9 August.The court had heard that the couple had been married for 19 years and shared two children together. They had been separated for two years but continued to live in the same house while they went through their divorce. Jurors were told Thompson - a former amateur boxer - was aware his wife had started a new relationship and was planning to move out, and she had requested around £65,000 as part of a divorce settlement.He spent the night watching sexual videos, 'stewing' about the fact Kim had a new boyfriend and that she was planning to move out.The court also heard that in the months leading up to the murder, Thompson had been spying on his wife, tracking her movements and reading her messages.On the night of Kimberley's death, Thompson sent a text message from her phone to his, suggesting she wanted to have sex with him. This was to cover up the rape, prosecutor Miranda Moore KC told the court.After suffocating his estranged wife, Thompson then set about crafting a 'scene' in an attempt to cover up what he had done.He moved empty bottles of gin and vodka and co-codamol packets into her downstairs bedroom, and placed a photograph of the couple together on the bed, along with a picture of Kim's sister, who had previously taken her own life.He was also alleged to have pretended to be Kim on social media, changing her Facebook relationship status to 'got married' early that morning. Some 30 seconds later, he added a status about "drinking to much!" with the incorrect spelling of too flagged by Kim's family as something she would never do.But a post-mortem examination showed no evidence of alcohol and only low levels of caffeine, paracetamol and codeine - the ingredients in co-codamol. A pathologist concluded she had been smothered, dying of external airway obstruction.During the trial, the court heard Thompson's 999 call, which he made at 5.30am. He told the operator: "I can't wake my wife up."I need an ambulance now. I don't know (what happened). I have just come down and seen her in bed with tablets and vodka. I need some help."Asked by the operator if Kim was breathing, Thompson replied: 'I can't see any movement... Oh my gosh, I can't see her chest.' He was then instructed on how to perform CPR, and could be heard wailing as he appeared to start chest compressions.At one point, Thompson appeared to be sick, with the sound of repeated retching heard in the ten-minute call.Thompson was quick to paint a picture to paramedics and police officers of Kim committing suicide. But in the aftermath of her death, family and friends shared their disbelief that Kim had taken her own life, said that she had been making plans for the future, and how Thompson had subjected Kim to years of domestic abuse.Jurors at the trial were not told about the death of Thompson's previous partner Rhonda Anderson, who was found dead in the bath of her home in the Briar Hill area of Northampton on 8 July 2000. But following his guilty verdict, these details can now be reported.‌An inquest later ruled that the 29-year-old mother-of-two's death was an accident caused by electrocution when a radio fell into the water. In 2025, police arrested Thompson on suspicion of murder. But, ultimately, there was "insufficient evidence to take the investigation further".Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, led the investigation into Kim’s murder. Speaking after the verdict, she said: "Not only did Thompson brutally rape and murder Kim, he took the time to stage her death in order to make people believe she had committed suicide before calling for help.Article continues below"I have no doubt these actions caused further upset to Kim’s loved ones, who have shown an enormous amount of grace and dignity throughout our investigation and during the trial."For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.