DOMESTIC ABUSER GUILTY OF MURDERING HER PARTNER
Update 05/02/2026: James Self, 47, died six weeks after Polly Murphy attacked him in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on 8 November 2023.Murphy, 42, of Hornsey Lane Gardens in Highgate, London, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to life in prison and ordered to serve at least 15 years.
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A woman responsible for domestic abuse has been convicted of killing her partner in a hotel room.
James Self, aged 47, passed away six weeks after Polly Murphy assaulted him in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on the 8th of November, 2023.
According to Essex Police, Murphy subjected Self to a prolonged pattern of abuse and exhibited increasing volatility in the weeks leading up to the fatal incident.
Murphy, 42, residing on Hornsey Lane Gardens in Highgate, London, is scheduled to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 4.
She was convicted on Tuesday following a four-week trial held at the same court.
Following the jury’s decision, Self’s mother, Ashe, expressed her grief, stating, "Like so many men, James was embarrassed by the control and violence being inflicted on him.
"Sadly, he would never come forward to seek help." Self, also a London resident, sustained multiple serious injuries during the assault at the hotel in Hartley Brook Road and died in hospital on December 21, 2023.
Evidence presented to the jury included text messages indicating Murphy's efforts to dominate her partner, with Essex Police noting that Self also bore injuries from earlier attacks by Murphy.
Self’s mother observed that her son had transformed from a friendly, cheerful individual into someone who was sad, withdrawn, and uncertain.
She explained, "Knowing James as I do so well, I realise he would not have fully understood the violence or how to deal with it.
"He thought loving her would be enough.
James, as always, believed in the good in people.
"His kindness may have cost him his life." Det Anthony Kopf, who led the investigation into Murphy, said the family conducted themselves with dignity in the face of "the most challenging evidence".
He added: "This case serves as a reminder that domestic abuse can affect anyone, including men."
