Jeremy Rickards was reportedly bruised at a pub before his death. His wife is accused of murder in an ongoing trial.
Jurors learned people saw Jeremy Rickards hurt at a pub named The Thomas Ingoldsby in Canterbury before his death. People described him as “bruised.” His body was in a holdall, buried under grass at his home on St Martin’s Road in Canterbury.
He was known as “The Ruddles Man” because of his drink choice. He was 65, quiet, frail, and vulnerable. People inquired about his injuries on May 17.
Charley Hayes, who works at the pub, told the jury he had bad facial bruising. Maureen Rickards is on trial for murder, accused of killing her husband. Hayes noticed he wore sunglasses, which was unusual. He also showed her an arm injury and his right eye was swollen and bruised.
He told Hayes he was in a recent car crash as a passenger. When Hayes asked if he went to the hospital, she could not remember his answer. He showed her a large forearm bruise and was last seen on June 7. Hayes called police after seeing his photo.
He visited the pub almost daily, staying for a couple of hours each time. He sat at his usual table, drank a pint, and smoked. He drank Ruddles in the afternoon. Hayes described him as a regular gentleman who kept to himself but enjoyed social interaction.
Hayes said he never got drunk at the pub, came and sat alone, was very quiet, and left without saying goodbye. He never caused trouble and didn’t quickly finish his drinks, according to trial testimony during cross-examination.
Mr. Rickards was 5ft 9in tall and weighed a little over seven stone. His 50-year-old wife allegedly stabbed him in early June. He had suffered domestic violence earlier. Police located his decomposing remains wrapped in bin bags inside a bag.
Police found his body on July 11 at his home on St Martin’s Road after his daughter reported him missing. The prosecution believes she killed him sometime after June 8 and initially hid his bleeding body in a cupboard.
Rickards then moved him to a large bag in the loft room before moving the body down two flights of stairs. The room was cluttered in the multi-occupancy house. The bag was placed in the garden, hidden under cuttings in an overgrown area where police found it.
A pathologist examined the badly decomposed remains and found five stab wounds, definitely in his chest. Two wounds were 11cm deep, inflicted with severe force, one going into his heart causing bleeding and fast death.
A post-mortem examination revealed other injuries, including two possible neck wounds, a fractured nose and spine, and a head injury. Metal fragments from a blade were in his head and medical experts found neck fractures that occurred at two different times.
One episode occurred weeks prior, between five and ten weeks before. Mr. Rickards also had many rib fractures, some old and healed, which showed historical blunt force trauma, information provided to the court.
A pathologist explained the chest wounds required severe force to penetrate bone, with one wound going through a rib. The prosecutor asked about recent rib and neck fractures but the expert could not tell precisely when they occurred, stating they could have happened pre-death, during death, or after death.
The expert stated the rib fractures had not started healing, and it was unlikely the injuries came from being put in a bag. She discussed neck injuries on both sides, stating the fractures were more likely pressure and not likely from just a fall.
She stated it would take more than one fall, but could not exclude some possibilities. The recent fractures may have occurred after, as death unfolded, or when the body got moved.
Rickards denies murder. The trial is still ongoing. The time period of the alleged murder is contested, between June 7 and July 11.