Daryl Berman claimed her husband, David Berman, had fallen over in their kitchen and landed on a ‘little paring knife’ – today she has been found guilty of his murder
David Berman(Image: Facebook)
A woman who claimed her husband had fallen in their kitchen and landed on a “little paring knife” has been found guilty of his murder.
Daryl Berman, 72, maintained throughout two trials that the death of her husband, David Berman, 84, was accidental. Mr Berman suffered a fatal chest wound during the incident at their home on Butterstile Lane, Prestwich, in March last year.
On Tuesday, following a week-long retrial at Minshull Street Crown Court, jurors found Berman guilty of murder.
The court had earlier heard that Berman called emergency services at 1.55pm on March 13, 2025, to report that her husband had been injured. He was pronounced dead at their home at 2.39pm.
Prosecutor Michael Brady KC said it was only later that a senior pathologist was called in after another doctor was “troubled” by the injury.
Home Office pathologist Dr Philip Lumb reported that the stab wound had the “typical features of a homicide”. He said that although it was not impossible, an accidental fall was “very unlikely to have caused the fatal wound”.
Mr Berman was also found to have a “defensive” wound to his finger. The couple’s 27-year marriage had been “loving and mutually supportive” and that there had been no record of domestic violence or involvement with police. Berman was described as a “very supportive and loving wife”.
Prosecutors said Mr Berman’s family noticed usual aspects of the defendant’s behaviour in the days following his death. “Although there is no set way to respond to and deal with grief in the days following David’s death, members of his family noticed how matter of fact and emotionless the defendant was,” prosecutor Michael Brady KC said.
Mr Brady told jurors Berman’s explanation that her husband’s injury had been caused accidentally was initially accepted by police.
The court heard Mr Berman had been diagnosed with dementia, used a walking stick and had been suffering with a ‘shortness of breath’ in the 10 days prior. “However, he had been in the best health his family had seen for some time,” Mr Brady added.
Earlier in the day on March 13, Mr Berman had been with his daughter and great granddaughter at a play centre, the court heard. Jurors were told Mrs Berman called 999 that afternoon and gave CPR under the instructions of the operator.
Jurors heard that in response to being asked what happened, she said: “I don’t know. I was in the other room. He’s carried a tray in. And all I can see is the tray. I think there was a knife. I don’t know whether the little knife that was there has gone into him and stabbed him. I really don’t know what’s happened.”
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