Woman Found Guilty in Second Trial for Husband’s Fatal Stabbing After Claiming He Fell on a Knife

Woman Found Guilty in Second Trial for Husband’s Fatal Stabbing After Claiming He Fell on a Knife

After her first trial ended with jurors unable to reach a verdict, Darryl Berman, 72, has been found guilty in her second trial for the murder of her husband, David Berman, 84, at their home in Prestwich, Bury.

Darryl and David Berman(Family Photo/Facebook)

Her defense throughout the case was that her husband simply fell onto the “little paring knife” she had used for her lunch.

The Emergency Call

On March 13, 2025, a 999 call was made from a home on Butterstile Lane, Prestwich. The caller was Darryl Berman, reporting that her husband had been injured. She performed CPR under the operator’s instructions.

The call was made at around 1:55 p.m., and David was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 2:29 p.m.

According to reports, when paramedics arrived they found David lying on his back on the kitchen floor.

During this time, Berman reportedly asked a police officer at the scene, “You don’t think I’ve murdered him, do you?”

Police also spoke with David’s son, who described his father as “clumsy” and said he fell frequently.

Medical Findings Raise Questions

Initially, police accepted the explanation that David’s death had been accidental. However, concerns were raised once doctors examined his body.

According to investigators, the wound “had the typical features of a homicide.”

Home Office pathologist Dr. Philip Lumb stated that although it was not impossible, an accidental fall was “very unlikely to have caused the fatal wound.”

Reports also indicated that David had suffered a “defensive wound” to one of his fingers.

Investigation Focuses on Darryl Berman

Investigators subsequently launched a homicide investigation.

David Berman had dementia, relied on a walking stick, and suffered from breathing difficulties. However, family members stated that he had been “in the best health his family had seen for some time.”

David Berman Celebrating his Birthday(Family Photo/Facebook)

Earlier on March 13, 2025, he had spent time with his daughter and great-granddaughter at a play centre.

Police suspicions eventually focused on Darryl Berman, whom investigators said had behaved unusually following David’s death.

“Although there is no set way to respond to and deal with grief in the days following David’s death, members of his family noticed how matter-of-fact and emotionless the defendant was,” prosecutor Michael Brady KC said.

Darryl Berman’s Account

After her arrest, Berman told police:

“I don’t know. I was in the other room. He’s carried a tray in. And all I can see is the tray. I think there was a knife. I don’t know whether the little knife that was there has gone into him and stabbed him. I really don’t know what’s happened.”

Darryl Berman(Greater Manchester Police)

She explained that she and David had lunch together that day and that he had offered to carry her tray into the kitchen.

“And he obviously walked into the kitchen, and I heard what sounded like a stumble or a fall. And straight away I said, ‘Oh my God, David, what’s wrong?’

“He said, ‘It’s okay, I’ve slipped.’”

Berman said she then heard another bang followed by a groan.

“I found him face down. He was making the most peculiar sound. I sort of looked down, moved his head a bit. And I thought, ‘What on earth is all this gravy? We don’t have gravy.’

“And it was the amount of blood. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

“I got the shock of my life because I didn’t know where it was coming from. I just couldn’t understand. And I was screaming. I said, ‘David, David’… I said, ‘You can’t go like this.’ ”

Maintaining Her Innocence

Berman reportedly broke down in tears while defending her innocence.

Darryl Berman(Family Photo/Facebook)

When asked how she felt after learning about David’s death, she replied:

“I was scrambling. I didn’t know what I was doing. I went into the kitchen on quite a few occasions because I just wanted to be with David.

“I took the sheet off his face and lay down next to him and cradled his head and told him I loved him.”

She described David as the love of her life and insisted she would never harm him.

“Why would I do that to the man I love? No.”

She maintained throughout the investigation and both trials that she had no idea how David suffered the fatal injury.

A Marriage of 27 Years

The Bermans had been married for 27 years.

According to evidence presented during the trial, their marriage was described as happy, loving, and supportive, with no history of domestic violence, abuse, or previous involvement with authorities.

Guilty Verdict

Following a first trial that ended with jurors unable to reach a verdict, Berman continued to insist that David’s death had been accidental.

Her second trial lasted one week.

On June 23, jurors found her guilty of murder, and she was remanded into custody.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 3.