Who Was Joanne Samak? Interior Designer Murdered After Husband Claimed She Took Her Own Life

Joanne Samak, a 49-year-old interior designer from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, was stabbed to death at the home she shared with her husband in the early hours of July 1, 2024, a killing he initially told police was self-inflicted before a jury convicted him of her murder.

Mohamed Samak, 43, a former Egyptian international hockey player and coach, was found guilty of murdering his wife following a retrial at Worcester Crown Court in October 2025. Joanne suffered six stab wounds, including one that penetrated her breastbone and heart, injuries medical experts said were highly unlikely to be self-inflicted. Samak was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years, with prosecutors pointing to financial strain, an interest in another woman, and his position as a beneficiary of his wife’s life insurance and pension as the motive behind the killing.

How She Died

Joanne suffered six stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, ranging from 2.5 to 10 centimeters deep, with one wound driving through her breastbone into her heart. Medical experts testified at trial that considerable force would have been needed to cause that injury, making it highly unlikely she inflicted it on herself. Neighbors reported hearing a scream in the night, but Samak did not call emergency services until more than an hour later, telling the call handler he had woken to check on his wife, who slept in a separate bedroom, and found her slumped on the bed with a knife in her stomach.

The Husband’s Changing Account

Mohamed Samak, a former Egyptian international hockey player and coach who had worked with Wales’ under-18 team, initially told police his wife had stabbed herself repeatedly and that he witnessed her final moments. He later changed his account during proceedings, telling the court he had lied at first out of panic and fear he would be blamed. Investigators found Joanne’s blood on clothing Samak had hidden in the family’s loft, evidence that proved central to securing his conviction. A knife recovered from her body bore no fingerprints, which police said was not unusual given its wooden handle.

The Verdict and Motive

Following a retrial, a jury at Worcester Crown Court found Samak guilty of murder in October 2025. Prosecutors argued he killed his wife amid financial difficulties and after developing feelings for another woman, while also noting he stood to benefit from her life insurance policy and pension. Sentencing him to a minimum of 21 years, Judge James Burbidge KC said Samak had become “blinded” by his own needs after Joanne fell out of love with him and was unwilling to accept she would not leave him.

The case has drawn renewed attention this week with the airing of a BBC documentary examining Samak’s “twisted motive” for the killing and his attempt to frame his wife’s death as a suicide.