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Ex-teacher faces life in prison after murdering wife and man


By PA News



An estranged husband is facing life imprisonment for murdering his wife and her lover who were both found fatally stabbed on New Year’s Day.

Former head teacher Rhys Hancock killed Helen Hancock, 39, from Duffield, Derbyshire, and Martin Griffiths, 48, from Derby, at the former marital home – before calling police to tell them what he had done.

Mrs Hancock, a PE teacher, and father-of-two Mr Griffiths were discovered with multiple stab wounds at the detached property in New Zealand Lane, Duffield, after police were first called at 4.11am.

Helen Hancock was murdered by her husband in Duffield on New Year’s Day (Derbyshire Constabulary/PA)
Helen Hancock was murdered by her husband in Duffield on New Year’s Day (Derbyshire Constabulary/PA)

Mr Griffiths had already died but paramedics battled for more than 15 minutes to resuscitate Mrs Hancock, before she also died from her injuries.

The 40-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of murder at a previous hearing on July 6.

Hancock, formerly of Portland Street in Etwall, Derbyshire, will be sentenced at the city’s crown court on Thursday.

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