Sign up to get weekly episode reminders
In this episode, I tell the story of Paul Norfolk, a 77-year-old man killed in Haverhill, Suffolk, in December 2011.
Paul lived in his semi-detached home with his wife, Esme, and her carer, 49-year-old Thailand native Bunthawee Rimmer, until Esme was moved to a residential home when her health drastically deteriorated after suffering a stroke.
Rimmer claimed she then began a sexual relationship with Paul, which ultimately led to him signing over his house and entire estate, worth around £340,000, to her in late 2011.
In the early hours of December 30, Rimmer murdered Paul by striking him in the head twelve times with a claw hammer. She then attempted to end her own life but was arrested and taken to a hospital in Cambridge to be treated for her injuries.
A jury at Ipswich Crown Court found her guilty of murder by way of a majority verdict in July 2012, and she was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 11 years.
Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exciting giveaways, and much more!
Do you have a case request? Please send it to contact@britishmurders.com or fill out a Contact Form at britishmurders.com/contact
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
davidjohnbrady.com
References:
Barton, S. (2022, November 4). Haverhill murderer Bunthawee Rimmer denied parole. Suffolk News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/haverhill/news/killer-has-parole-bid-rejected-after-11-years-in-prison-9282708/
Bunthawee Rimmer, carer, convicted after brutally beating Paul Norfolk to death in Hammer attack (PICTURES). (2012, July 13). HuffPost UK. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/13/carer-bunthawee-rimmer-convicted-brutally-beating-paul-norfolk-death-in-hammer-attack_n_1670798.html
Carer Bunthawee Rimmer denies murdering Paul Norfolk. (2012, April 2). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-17587294
Carer guilty of claw hammer murder of Paul Norfolk. (2012, July 13). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-18827195
Carer in court on Haverhill murder charge. (2012, January 4). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-16415380
Dawber, N., & Hanrahan, W. (Directors). (2019, September 19). Nurses Who Kill(season 3, episode 8). Firstlook TV, DCD Rights and UKTV. https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/530282
Dewsbury, R. (2012, July 13). Thai woman who beat pensioner lover, 77, to death with a hammer when he changed his will to leave her everything is jailed for life. Mail Online. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2173190/Thai-woman-beat-pensioner-lover-77-death-hammer-changed-leave-jailed-life.html
Gardner, A. (2022, November 3). Thai carer who beat her lover, 77, to death with a 12oz claw hammer after he changed his will to leave her £340,000 is denied permission to move to an open prison. Mail Online. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11385005/Thai-carer-beat-lover-death-12oz-claw-hammer-denied-open-prison.html
Hammer attack killer guilty of murder. (2012, July 13). ITV News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-07-13/hammer-attack-killer-guilty-of-murder
Haverhill death: Woman charged with man’s murder. (2012, January 3). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-16400335
Haverhill murder trial: court hears carer used hammer. (2012, July 2). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-18676342
Haverhill: Woman charged with murder. (2012, January 3). Heart Suffolk. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/haverhill-woman-charged-murder/
Murder accused heard voice in her head. (2012, July 9). ITV News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-07-09/murder-accused-heard-voice-in-her-head
Paul Norfolk, 77, found dead next to carer, inquest told. (2012, February 14). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-17029389
Whitman, J. (2022, November 5). Thai carer who beat her lover to death denied parole in UK. Thaiger. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/thai-carer-who-beat-her-lover-to-death-denied-parole-in-uk
Woman arrested after man found dead at Haverhill house. (2011, December 31). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-16372792
Woman held over man’s death in Haverhill out of hospital. (2012, January 1). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-16377465
Woman in court over Haverhill death. (2012, January 4). BBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-16413623
