Michael Thompson: ‘He said it was his right to have sex with her because he’d put up with her for so many years’
A friend and work colleague of the alleged murder victim told the court the defendant “said it was his right to have sex with her because he’d put up with her for so many years”.
55-year-old Michael Thompson, of Pinewood Road, pleaded not guilty to the rape and murder of 43-year-old Kimberley Thompson – who was found dead at a home in Pinewood Road on August 9, 2025.
Thompson appeared at Northampton Crown Court on December 16, 2025 when he also pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice.
The trial, which is being held at Nottingham Crown Court, is expected to last around six weeks and the jury members were sworn in on Thursday, May 21 ahead of the prosecution opening on Tuesday, May 26.
The next witness to be called upon was Rosie Williams, a friend and work colleague of Kim’s and the pair had worked together for more than 15 years.
One of the last things Kim had spoken to Rosie about was that Thompson had got into her phone and read messages exchanged between her and her new partner Nathan.
Rosie told the court that with the type of phone Kim had, which required a swipe to get in, it could be held up to the light and you can see the marks of how to get into it.
The court heard that Thompson believed Kim “needed her supplies”, which referred to “going round sh*gging men in hotels”, and that “everybody’s going to know what she’s really like”. Rosie recalled Kim told her that Thompson called her a narcissist and a bad mother.
Rosie said that Kim’s bedroom was “very crammed” with all her belongings in there and although she was on her own in that room, the defendant came in. When asked in what circumstances, Rosie said: “He said it was his right to have sex with her because he’d put up with her for so many years.”
When asked what Kim’s demeanour was like when she told Rosie this, the witness said she “looked broken” and “her eyes just filled with tears”.
The witness told the court Kim “never seemed really happy”.
Rosie recalled Kim told her that Thompson called her a narcissist and a sl*t, and that she “started to believe that she could be this person”. Rosie told the court Kim required constant reassurance.
When asked if Kim had told her about any attempts at physical contact following her separation from Thompson, the witness said Kim told her the defendant tried to kiss her in the kitchen recently. Kim did not want to and gave the reason that they were divorced so it was “best to just leave it”.
Kim had told Rosie about her sister’s suicide, which she was “heartbroken” by. The court heard that Kim was upset because she felt her sister’s husband moved on very quickly, and that Thompson compared Kim to him. The court heard that Thompson asked Kim why she could not just be on her own.
Rosie did not socialise with Kim outside of work and her colleagues had asked her to join “quite a few times” but she never accepted.
The court heard that Kim was next due into work on August 9, 2025 and Rosie’s worry increased when she was still nowhere to be seen a couple of days later on Monday. The witness called by the house that day and was informed of Kim’s passing.
When cross-examined by Mr Hankin KC, Rosie was asked to confirm if it was during the last few months of Kim’s life that their contact became closer emotionally and physically as they sat next to each other at work. Rosie said it became more frequent that she and Kim spoke, but she believes they were close before.
Rosie confirmed that she never saw Kim with any injuries, apart from when she had a broken nose on March 10, 2022 – and the witness was also sent a photo of Kim with the injury.
The court heard that Kim came into work with the injury and colleagues advised her to go to the hospital. Kim said she would following her meetings, and the photo that Rosie was sent was from Kim at the hospital.
Kim told Rosie the hospital confirmed her nose was broken but because it did not bleed, she would not get black eyes, and Kim said she had the injury from basketball the weekend prior.
The trial continues.
Take a look at the Chronicle & Echo’s ongoing coverage of this trial here…