Wife convicted of husband’s murder following fatal stabbing

A woman has been found guilty of murder after fatally stabbing her husband of 15 years in the neck. Henri Kekkonen passed away on 9 May, having been attacked by Christine Kekkonen at their shared residence on Dunford Terrace in Baltonsborough, Somerset. The court heard that Kekkonen immediately messaged her mother following the incident, pleading for her to contact police as she had “done something awful”. The 36-year-old asserted she did not intend to kill Henri, but a jury at Bristol Crown Court found her guilty of murder on Friday. Her sentencing is scheduled for 28 March. Avon and Somerset Police reported that Henri was assaulted at some point between 16:00 BST and 16:20 BST. At 16:21 BST, Kekkonen sent a text message to her mother stating: “Mum, please get the police here now. Please. I’ve done something awful”. Subsequently, her father called for an ambulance, and police were notified. Emergency services arrived at their home within 15 minutes, but despite their efforts, Henri died at the scene. Extensive blood staining was discovered on the couple’s bed in their bungalow, and police later recovered a knife from the floor on the left-hand side of the bed. Kekkonen was arrested on suspicion of murder and subsequently charged by detectives from Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team. Senior investigating officer Det Supt Lorett Spierenburg stated: “Henri was a loving husband who, aged 41, had so much more life to live. Those opportunities were cruelly taken from him. Christine Kekkonen is clearly a vulnerable woman, but her actions that afternoon have cut short the life of a man who completely doted on her. I am pleased for Henri’s family that the woman responsible for his death has today been convicted of his murder and my thoughts remain with them.” Kekkonen will be sentenced on 28 March.