Michael Thompson: Jury asked to ‘take dose of reality’ as murder accused described as ‘jealous, obsessed and furious’ about ‘fun-loving’ former partner’s new life
A jury has heard a Northampton man, accused of murdering his former partner, described as “jealous, obsessed and furious” about her new life, as the prosecution closes its case.
On Friday June 26, prosecutor Miranda Moore KC, asked the jury to “take a dose of reality”, during her closing statement in the Michael Thompson trial, which has been ongoing at Nottingham Crown Court since May 21, 2026.
The 56-year-old, of Pinewood Road, is accused of raping and murdering his former partner, 43-year-old Kimberly Thompson, on August 9, 2025. He has also denied two charges of committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice.
Addressing the jury, Ms Moore said: “Only Thompson and Kim were in the house that night. If Kim was killed, it has got to have been him - that is the basic fact.
“You never get the answers to everything but that does not mean to say you cannot be certain of someone's guilt, particularly as you have as much evidence as you do in this case.”
Later on in her closing statement, Ms Moore also said: “We say if you asphyxiate someone, there can be no doubt you are intending to kill them. Kim was asphyxiated.”
The prosecution's closing statement looked back over many of the witnesses, including friends Kim spoke to about her relationship - who have given evidence during the nearly six-week trial.
Ms Moore said although anything that was said by witnesses, referring to what Kim had told them, was “hearsay”, she asked the jury to consider if Kim was telling the truth and said there was “no suggestion she wasn’t telling the truth or wasn’t being accurate”.
Ms Moore added: “The overwhelming evidence we heard was that Kim was loved and had friends. She was vibrant and worked her socks off for her kids.”
Of the relationship between Thompson and Kim, Ms Moore said it was a myth that “abused women always report abuse to the police” and that it is when the woman wants to walk away that “they are most at risk”. At another point in the closing statement, Ms Moore refers to Kim “going back to being Kim” in the months leading up to her death. She also said that “misogynistic is probably not going far enough”, when referring to Thompson and his beliefs.
Ms Moore continued: “Take a step into reality. Was Kim a lying, manipulative, fantasist or was she loving and living a life in fear or being monitored, spied on and controlled?
“That is the overview.”
Ms Moore mentioned there were things she would have liked the police to have done, including testing the yellow liquid, however her submission was that Thompson “manufactured” the scene physically and electronically.
“The evidence pointed to her wanting to live. She was enjoying her children and her new life,” Ms Moore added.
Ms Moore also said Thompson was “setting the suicide scene in almost the first thing he says to the 999 operator”.
“Police were faced with scene of suicide and believed it - that is because of the steps Thompson had taken to prove it”, the prosecutor continued.
Referring to the messages sent from Kim’s phone in the early hours of August 9, 2025, Ms Moore said: “We say she didn’t send those messages. They are the first messages sent after he killed her.”
Ms Moore went on to say that Thompson wants to rely on his accounts given during multiple police interviews, as he chose not to give evidence during the trial.
The prosecutor added: “This is the account the defence will ask you to consider in his favour.”
However, Ms Moore asked the jury “which account will you go from?” as she says Thompson gave different accounts in different interviews.
Ms Moore concluded by saying: “I ask you to look at all the evidence you have heard. Are the prosecution right?
“He was jealous and obsessed and wanted his money, furious that she was moving on, furious that she didn’t want him anymore.
“You are being asked to swallow some coincidences in this case - take a dose of reality.”
The defence are expected to give their closing statement on Monday June 29.
The trial continues.