A husband accused of bludgeoning his wife to death allegedly told police she had asked him to leave because he had coronavirus, a court heard.
Hussein Egal, 65, is said to have murdered 57-year-old Maryan Ismail at their home in Edmonton, north London, on April 6. Concerned neighbours had contacted police sometime after 6pm and Ms Ismail was later found dead at the flat having suffered serious injuries.
Egal appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Belmarsh. Wearing a light brown top he sat with his arms folded throughout the short administrative hearing as an interpreter relayed proceedings to him.
Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court that when Egal was interviewed following his arrest he claimed ‘his wife had asked him to move out as he was suffering from coronavirus’. Egal was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 14.