Man guilty of attempting to murder wife with hammer

Paul Bond, 62, tried to kill Dr Marian Bond at their home in Willingham Road, Over, near Swavesey, on July 11 last year.

Cambridge Crown Court heard the assault on the university lecturer as she slept in bed that morning left her with a severely fractured skull and jaw and in a critical condition.

He struck her with the two-and-a-half pound lump hammer at least twice to the head before calling 999 and telling an operator he had attacked his wife.

Police officers arrived to find Bond with blood on his hands, cheek, chest and dressing gown.

Dr Bond was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where she was placed in an induced coma and part of her skull was removed to save her life. She has since made a partial recovery.

Bond pleaded guilty to intending to cause grievous bodily harm in November but denied the more serious charge of attempted murder.

Today (Monday January 9) he was found guilty of attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Jerry Waite, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit, said: “This was an horrific assault which could easily have killed Dr Bond. Without the immediate intervention of paramedics we would probably have been dealing with a murder.

“This is a sad case and the conviction today is not one to celebrate, however, I hope it allows the victim and relatives to move on knowing that justice has taken its course.

“We take domestic crimes of all severities very seriously, will thoroughly investigate and where appropriate put suspects before the courts.”