A FATHER has today said he has been left heartbroken as he never believed his son would be found guilty of manslaughter.Aubrey Morley, from Stowmarket, insists his son, Anthony Morley, is innocent despite a jury at Ipswich Crown Court finding him guilty of manslaughter earlier this month following a week-long trial into the death of his wife Joanna.

A FATHER has today said he has been left heartbroken as he never believed his son would be found guilty of manslaughter.

Aubrey Morley, from Stowmarket, insists his son, Anthony Morley, is innocent despite a jury at Ipswich Crown Court finding him guilty of manslaughter earlier this month following a week-long trial into the death of his wife Joanna.

Mr Morley (senior) is now anxiously waiting for his son's sentencing next month and said depending on the outcome, they may look to appeal.

Mrs Morley, 42, died in June last year after her husband punched her in the neck during a row causing an artery to rupture.

The guilty verdict came as a shock to his father, who claims that Mrs Morley could have been killed due to an accident.

Mr Morley (Snr) said: “He is a lovely man. The defence pathologist said it could have been an accident as she could have fallen on the bed.

“Everyone was shocked to hear the verdict. I was heartbroken. He is an innocent man. We have got to wait to see what the sentence will be. I don't want to think about it at the moment.

“I think juries should be made up of professional people. In some juries there are people that cannot read or write and that shouldn't be allowed.”

Originally from Stowmarket, Mr Morley, 42, of Eagle Walk, Bury St Edmunds, is due to return to the court in the week beginning May 19 for sentence.

During the trial, he denied punching his wife and said he had no reason to believe she was seriously hurt when he left her. He had earlier told police he had pushed his wife after she had been drunk and aggressive to him when they went to bed.

Mrs Morley's six devastated children described her as “one in a million” and added in a statement following the verdict: “We hope Mr Morley realises the number of lives he has ruined in the process of taking one life. We are grateful to the jury for their time and in reaching the correct verdict.”

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