Man accused of murder “had eyes on the prize” of insurance payout

^{Image credit: Photo released by Sian Hammond’s family via Cambridgeshire Constabulary}

Cambridge Crown Court has been told that the man accused of killing his wife in Histon had paid her life insurance less than a week before she was found dead last October 30.

According to Christopher Paxton KC of the prosecution side, 47-year-old mortgage broker Robert Hammond made Sian Hammond’s (pictured) Legal & General policy up to date by paying in late October 2023.

No more than five days later, Robert made a 999 call to say Sian was not breathing – the 46-year-old was pronounced dead in their Cambridgeshire home.

Citing the findings of a post-mortem examination, the prosecutor told the court that Sian had been strangled. It was also established that she suffered other injuries, while Robert claimed he had found the mother of his two teenage children face down on the bed.

It was highlighted that at the time of Sian’s death, Robert was under extreme financial pressure due to what Paxton called “a surging mountain of debt” worth around £300,000. His wife’s life insurance policy would have paid out £450,000.

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