HISTON MAN JAILED FOR MURDERING WIFE FOR HER LIFE INSURANCE

Robert Hammond, aged 47, was convicted of murdering his wife, Sian Hammond, in their residence in Histon near Cambridge. Known also as James, Hammond had accumulated debts close to £300,000 and operated a mortgage brokerage called Hammond Mortgage Services. His motive for the killing was to gain from her life insurance policy valued at £450,000. In October 2023, Hammond strangled Sian after a weekend they shared together. Although he denied the murder charge, the jury found him guilty following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court. The judge described the killing as "brutal and determined" and sentenced Hammond to serve at least 24 years, pointing to the significant financial debts and pressures that prosecutors argued drove his actions. Evidence showed Hammond had researched methods to overdose using diazepam, as he was aware she feared flying. On the night of the incident, he called emergency services claiming to have discovered her face down and unresponsive. Paramedics noted that no CPR appeared to have been administered, and Hammond was heard on record saying, "She never sleeps on her front; she’s not moving at all; I’ve been calling her and calling her…" During sentencing, Mr. Justice John Cavanagh linked Hammond’s act to his mounting financial burdens, including debts to HMRC and a financial company, which he concealed through fabrications about having cancer and undergoing a divorce. The judge praised Sian Hammond for her kind-hearted nature, describing her as "a lovely person," "bubbly, friendly," and a dedicated mother to her two daughters. Although Hammond’s daughters attended the hearing and showed support, ongoing contact with their father appeared unlikely. His actions inflicted profound grief on his family, depriving Sian of many more years of happiness and a fulfilling life.