Freda Rumbold

Case record: Freda Phyllis Rumbold

Background

Freda Phyllis Rumbold was married to timber contractor husband Alfred Frank Rumbold for 20 years. Their marriage was described as odd. Alfred Rumbold’s mother later testified that Alfred was “a very odd person, particularly at the time of the full moon.” Freda spent many nights sleeping in her daughter’s bed or on the landing of their Bristol house rather than share a bed with Alfred, whom she was described as having “strange sexual habits.” Freda was also described as obtaining loans in her husband’s name and forging his signature on worthless cheques. Alfred kept a 12-bore shotgun in the house. Freda asked friends to obtain cartridges for her.

The offence

On the night of 25th August 1956, 43-year-old Freda blew away the top of her husband Alfred’s head as he lay sleeping in bed. She left the corpse where it was. She then stuffed “a towel soaked in perfume” under the bedroom door and hung up a sign that read “Please do not enter.”

At her trial, Freda maintained that her husband had died as they struggled for the gun. In relation to her account, she stated that he had threatened to kill her and her daughter and that she had wrestled the gun off of him and it had “accidently” shot him in the struggle. It was stated that “the gun only held 1 shot and so she would have had to have reloaded,” which undermined her defence. She blamed the moon and Alfred’s “excessive sexual demands.” She was said to have purchased a gun and on 22 August 1956 shot him twice while he was asleep.

Freda kept the body around for several days before telling the police.

Investigation

Relatives, asking about Alfred, were not satisfied with Freda’s answers and asked the police to investigate. Officers were not deterred by the sign on the bedroom door and quickly discovered the body.

Trial

At her trial, Freda maintained that her husband had died during a struggle over the gun. Forensic evidence about the angle of entry of the wound disproved this account. She was found guilty.

Sentencing

She was sentenced to life imprisonment after conviction.

She was also sentenced to death on November 22, 1956, but was later reprieved and the death sentence was commuted.

Outcome

Freda Phyllis Rumbold was convicted of the murder of her husband Alfred Frank Rumbold, sentenced to life imprisonment, and was also sentenced to death on November 22, 1956 before the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.