A wife has been found guilty of murdering her 84-year-old husband.

Daryl Berman, 72, claimed her husband’s injuries had been sustained as he fell carrying a tray with a knife into the kitchen.

The Crown Prosecution Service produced evidence at trial to show that the stab wound to David Berman’s chest had been inflicted upon him and could not have been caused in the way suggested by Daryl Berman.

Sazeeda Ismail, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Daryl Berman stabbed her husband of 27 years in the chest and intentionally caused his death.

“She lied to paramedics, police and family members when she claimed Mr Berman had accidentally sustained his fatal injuries.

“The jury saw through her lies and convicted her of murder, due to the strength of the prosecution’s case.

“My thoughts are with David Berman’s loved ones at this very difficult time.”

Shortly before 2pm on March 13, paramedics attended a report of an injury to Mr Berman at his home address. Mr Berman was found in the kitchen with a stab wound to his chest.

Although Daryl Berman’s explanation that it was an accidental injury was accepted initially, there were concerns about her behaviour at the time.

She was very calm and matter of fact, she also had very little blood on her; despite saying she had rolled her husband over.

Mrs Berman was arrested five days later after concerns were raised during the post mortem in relation to the injury.

Mrs Berman’s phone was seized following arrest and investigators noted that on the day of her husband’s death, she had opened her phone at 1:54:46pm, but the emergency call was not made until 25 seconds later.

Despite instructions from the emergency operator, it was over six minutes into the call when Mrs Berman began CPR. In the intervening period she had gone silent for a time and at one point, had answered another phone in the same room.

Paramedics arrived soon after. Despite their best efforts, Mr Berman was pronounced dead at 2:39pm that day.

Police officers arrived and spoke to Mrs Berman on the driveway of her home. She asked why the police had been called and said: “You don’t think I murdered him do you?”

During her police interview she claimed that her husband had carried her tray with a plate, cup and knife into the kitchen. She claimed to have heard a sound, like he had fallen, but he said it’s okay, I slipped. She then claimed to have heard a groan, then she ran into the kitchen, finding him lying face down.

Pathologists ruled out accidental injury, and confirmed their view was that this was an inflicted injury.

Mr Berman also had a stab wound to his right middle finger which is commonly associated with people trying to defend themselves from a knife attack.

Following the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Daryl Berman was found guilty of murder.

She will be sentenced at a later date.