Man accused of his wife's murder 'blamed robbers' for the killing

A Rochdale man accused of murdering his wife and making it look like a suicide in an organised plot had first blamed robbers for the killing, a court heard.

Michael Bamford, 50, of Church Street, Littleborough, is currently standing trial at Manchester Crown Court charged with the murder of his wife, Ivy Sutcliffe, 61, who he allegedly shot in the head at their home in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2004.

The court heard that the former taxi driver first blamed local robbers for his wife’s suspicious death, but later told police she committed suicide. 

The court heard Ivy Sutcliffe, who was also known as Ivy Bamford, was killed by a single shot to the head on 2 August 2004.

The shot was heard by neighbour Dr Stuart Hargreaves who spoke to the court, claiming Mr Bamford called him explaining that his wife had shot herself.

He said that when he arrived at the house Mrs Sutcliffe was slumped on the settee, "gasping for breath" and in a "very, very serious condition".

But the court heard that once legal proceedings began he changed his story and claimed his wife had committed suicide.

Dr Hargreaves told the court that Mr Bamford took a small pistol to the hospital with him and tried to dispose of it in a dustbin while they were waiting because it was unlicensed.

The court heard that the couple emigrated from Rochdale to Zimbabwe in 1998.
The trial continues…