A HEADTEACHER has today appeared in court charged with murdering his wife and her new lover on New Year’s Day.
Rhys Hancock, 39, is accused of killing Helen Hancock, also 39, from Duffield, Derbyshire, and Martin Griffiths, 48, at his former marital home.
Mrs Hancock, a teacher, and dad-of-two Mr Griffiths were discovered with multiple stab wounds at her detached property after police were first called at 4.11am.
Hancock, who had three children – aged nine, four and three – with his wife, appeared at Derby Crown Court for a brief 10-minute hearing on Monday.
Wearing a black suit, white shirt and pink tie, he appeared in the court's dock, flanked by a security officer and speaking only to confirm his name.
MURDER TRIAL
Hancock, of Etwall, Derbyshire, stared ahead throughout the hearing as the Recorder of Derby, Judge Nirmal Shant QC, set a provisional trial date for August 24.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
A previous court hearing, before the city's magistrates on Friday, heard how Hancock was arrested outside the former marital home in the early hours of New Year's Day.
The court was told he was arrested at the scene after he dialled 999 himself before he was later charged with two counts of murder.
The court heard Hancock’s mum called cops to warn them her son was heading to his estranged wife's home armed with two knives.
Jeanette Stevenson, prosecuting, said Mr and Mrs Hancock had separated "some time ago" and described Mr Griffiths as her "new partner".
The trouble flared again at the New Year as she marked the occasion with her new partner.
"THEY'RE DEAD"
Shocked neighbours heard someone yell: “They’re dead! They’re dead! What have you f******g done?” at about 3am.
Police then discovered Mr Griffiths, who was already deceased, and the fatally injured Mrs Hancock – who later died, despite the efforts of paramedics.
Nobody else was in the house at the time and the couple's three children had been staying with a grandparent at the time of the incident.
Mrs Hancock had recently begun a relationship with Mr Griffiths, who worked at a creative marketing agency in Derby.
Derbyshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to contact between Mrs Hancock and its officers before the incident.
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