A woman allegedly stabbed her estranged spouse twice following his disclosure that their pet dogs had been euthanized, as revealed in court proceedings. Claire Bridger, aged 64, is facing trial for the purported attempted murder of Keith Bridger after their four-decade-long relationship came to an end. The incident occurred when she visited him at his residence in Norfolk, where she reportedly stabbed him in the chest and abdomen upon learning about the fate of their rescue dogs.
Despite attending mediation sessions with his wife at the time of the attack, Keith Bridger sustained severe injuries and was treated for life-threatening wounds. While Claire has refuted the charge of attempted murder, she has acknowledged committing an offense of wounding with intent. Testimonies in Norwich Crown Court detailed the breakdown of their marriage, leading to Keith relocating from their shared home in Taverham, Norfolk.
During the trial, it was disclosed that Claire assaulted her husband upon discovering that their dogs had been put to sleep. The couple had taken in two rescue dogs, known for their noisy and aggressive behavior, after the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown. Following the relationship breakdown, the dogs stayed with Mr. Bridger, who struggled to find them suitable homes due to his living situation.
Mr. Bridger made the difficult decision to have the dogs euthanized, unbeknownst to his wife. When Claire confronted him about the animals’ whereabouts, she became distressed upon learning their fate and proceeded to attack him with a knife. The altercation escalated, with neighbors intervening to assist Mr. Bridger and contact emergency services.
Subsequently, Mr. Bridger received immediate medical attention from a neighbor who is a doctor before being transported to a local hospital for treatment of severe injuries. Claire Bridger, of Rossons Road, Taverham, later expressed to the police that he had “killed my dogs” and claimed she acted impulsively. Represented by Tim Hunter, Claire denied the charge of attempted murder during the court proceedings, where she appeared visibly emotional and admitted to wounding with intent. The trial is ongoing.