Woman who killed estranged husband is jailed for life
A woman who killed her estranged husband in Newport has been jailed for life for his murder. Amy Pugh, 34, was found guilty of murdering Kyle Pugh after a trial at Stafford Crown Court in June. She was given a life sentence on Friday 5 September, and must serve a minimum of 14 years.
Kyle, 29, was found by his estranged wife at her home on Aston Drive in March 2022. Amy Pugh claimed he had taken his own life, but a police investigation found he had died from injuries consistent with neck compression, as well as a fractured eye socket and nose.
During the trial, the court heard that Pugh did not call emergency services for several minutes, instead making multiple phone calls to her father, including a six-minute video call. When paramedics arrived, she was performing CPR. She told officers that Kyle had previously attempted to take his life and that she had saved him in the past.
The court also heard that Pugh sent videos of the fire to her estranged husband, singing ‘Ring of Fire’, after burning down his workshop in October 2021. She was found guilty of arson and given a suspended sentence.
Detective Inspector Jo Delahay, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a long and complex investigation and I am grateful for the sentence given to Amy Pugh today.
“Amy and Kyle were a married couple, who at the time of his death had separated, and Kyle was in a new relationship. We know the pair had a volatile relationship; however Kyle should not have died at the hands of the woman he once loved.
“On the night in question, our investigation shows that following an argument which turned physical, Amy got Kyle into some form of headlock or compression to the neck that caused him to fall unconscious.
“Realising Kyle was unresponsive Amy made the decision to not call for help immediately and delayed calling emergency services. During that time, she made several phone calls to her father, including a six-minute video call.
“We will never know why Amy decided to act in this way, or exactly how she killed him as she has shown no remorse throughout the investigation or the trial.
“Amy was very much aware of Kyle’s vulnerabilities and mental health history, and I believe she callously used this as part of her lies to protect herself by claiming he had taken his own life.”
Detective Inspector Delahay continued: “It is unusual to have a female convicted of a domestic murder, but I would like to reassure the public that West Mercia Police takes all reports of domestic abuse seriously, and we will investigate and get justice for victims.
“Kyle was a well-known figure within the Telford community through his art and MC’ing, and I hope today’s sentence brings some sort of closure to all those who knew him. While it won’t bring Kyle back, I hope it brings justice for his family, and for Kyle.”
Kyle was a well-known figure in the Telford community as an artist and MC, and his family said he was a “visionary in design”. They said their hearts were broken and that he would be missed by many.
