A former top public school hockey coach accused of murdering his wife had been depressed and unhappy about their lack of sex, his mother-in-law told a jury today. Mohamed Samak, 42, is accused of stabbing year-old interior designer Joanne after the couple 'drifted apart' and he struggled to find work. A court heard the hockey international, who had represented Egypt and was a member of the England overs squad, was experiencing financial difficulties and 'had feelings' for a former female acquaintance he had reconnected with.
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said messages showed Samak had 'kissed or at the very least come close to kissing' the woman after meeting her for dinner just weeks before his wife's death last summer. Jurors were told the couple slept in separate beds and giving evidence this morning, Mrs Samak's mother, Penelope Vale, told the court Samak 'didn't think it was right that they hadn't slept together for some time'.
She recalled an occasion when the couple stayed the night in a hotel after attending a function and the defendant told her that his wife had 'only slept with him because she had had a glass of wine'. Ms Vale said that sometime in the year leading up to her daughter's death at the marital home in Droitwich, Worcestershire, in the early hours of July 1, Samak had confided that he was depressed.
He said he felt lonely. Mohamed Samak is accused of stabbing his interior designer wife Joanne above, together. Police and forensics at the scene in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, on July 2 last year. Asked by the prosecutor what she said in return, Mrs Vale said that she suggested 'he should take Jo out somewhereβ¦that he could initiate going for a night out, just the two of them. She added that she also advised him to talk to her daughter 'about the way he was feeling. The court heard the conversation came after Samak had spoken to Ms Vale after her daughter had told him that she had once been raped.
Ms Vale said her daughter had told her about the sex attack around 15 years ago - which was a 'long time' after the incident - but added that the defendant seemed 'upset' he hadn't been told sooner. Mrs Vale added that she 'got the impression' Samak 'could not handle the fact that it had happened at all'.
