CHRISTOPHER COLLIER SENTENCED IN CHIPPEHAM FOR FATAL ALTERCATION WITH WIFE

Christopher Collier, a 53-year-old resident of Chippenham, was handed a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of his wife, Julie Collier. The tragic incident took place at their shared flat on Charter Road in Chippenham, Wiltshire, in September 2015.

Details emerging from the court proceedings painted a grim picture of a long-standing struggle with alcohol abuse affecting both individuals. It was noted that Mrs. Collier’s health had deteriorated significantly due to her alcohol dependency, to the extent that she was confined to a wheelchair. On the night of her death, an altercation erupted that resulted in Collier losing his temper and physically assaulting his wife. Despite her frail condition—she weighed only seven stones and posed minimal threat—he struck her during the confrontation.

Testimony revealed that Collier had told police that his wife had hit him and threatened him with a screwdriver, which prompted him to punch her. The altercation escalated, and the two fell to the floor. Remarkably, Mrs. Collier was still conscious when Collier left the flat to purchase more alcohol. The following morning, he was unable to wake her, and she was found dead. An autopsy confirmed that she had succumbed to a subdural haemorrhage, a type of brain bleed often caused by head trauma.

Judge Mr. Justice Teare addressed the court, emphasizing that this was not a simple case of a single punch. He explained, “This was not a case of a fight involving just one punch. There was a struggle in which you punched her more than once, you ended up on the floor and she banged her head on the floor.” Despite the violence, the judge clarified that there was no evidence to suggest Collier intended to cause her serious bodily harm.

It was also revealed that Collier, who had attended Oxford University and was highly educated, had previously expressed concerns about losing his temper. He described Mrs. Collier’s behavior when intoxicated as ‘vile,’ and in a letter to the court, he admitted that his actions were ‘unforgivable,’ stating, “I have caused the death of the person I loved.”

The tragic loss has left Mrs. Collier’s family devastated. They mourned the loss of a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend, expressing their grief over the tragic circumstances that led to her untimely death in Chippenham.