Husband strangled wife Julie McKinley because she was late home, court hears

Published: 13 August, 2010
by DAVID ST GEORGE

A HUSBAND strangled his wife to death with one hand because she came home late from a family party, an Old Bailey jury heard this week.

School assistant Julie McKinley, 40, a mother of five, was found dead at her home in Finsbury Park on New Year’s Eve last year. She was killed as four of her children slept, said Michael Shorrock, QC, prosecuting.

Jobless Robert Tyler, 47, who denies her murder, was alleged to have been “violent, jealous and possessive”.

Mr Shorrock told the jury of four women and eight men: “It was his ­temper that caused him to kill her.”

Tyler dialled 999 and told police that they would find the body at the family flat in Stroud Green Road. 

Officers smashed in the door and found the couple’s three daughters and one son asleep in the basement.

The jury was told that Julie – a grandmother with a grown-up daughter – and Tyler had been in a “turbulent” 16-year relationship and had been ­married for three years. 

He was a heavy drinker and claimed to be an alcoholic.

“It is not suggested that he did not unlawfully kill his wife by manually strangling her,” said the QC.

But lawyers – led by Graham ­Trembath QC – representing Tyler will argue that he should be convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter. 

A consultant psychiatrist will give evidence that Tyler was suffering from “an abnormality of the mind” at the time of the killings, and may also have been provoked by the victim.

Tyler claimed that during a row with Julie she told him he was not the father of their 22 month-old-son. He said his self-control deserted him and he attacked her.

“I lost it and snapped and grabbed her throat and squeezed,” he added.

Mr Shorrock said Tyler knew what he was doing and his only excuse for the deadly assault was that “he was smarting because Julie stayed out late”.

Julie’s sister Jackie was concerned when they arrived home at midnight from the party. But Julie reassured her that she could deal with her husband. “Don’t worry, I’ll get him nicked,” she said. 

Jackie left for her own home and “everything seemed to be all right” between the couple, although Julie 

was under the weather due to the amount of alcohol she had consumed that day.

Tyler had tried to talk to her on her mobile 36 times and then searched the streets for her and the children because he was “worried sick” as midnight came and went.

The relationship had been marred by domestic violence and disputes. Tyler’s “obsessive jealousy”, coupled with his drinking to excess and violence, had led to previous jail terms and court cases, the jury heard.

The trial continues.