Gifted artist James Self, 47, endured horrific bruises within the days resulting in his dying from accidents inflicted by his girlfriend, Polly Murphy, 42, throughout a violent birthday getaway.
The Deadly Assault Unfolds
James Self suffered a savage two-hour beating at Smugglers’ Cove resort in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, in November 2023. Murphy unleashed her fury after Self offered her with a birthday present. The assault fractured eight of his ribs, precipitated extreme inside accidents, and left bruises throughout his total physique.
Paramedics found Self in a blood-soaked room, with blood overlaying partitions, flooring, ceilings, and bedding. When requested a couple of battle, Self replied, “No, she’s been hitting me – it was one-sided and I didn’t retaliate.” Murphy fled the scene in a single day, delaying her emergency name by 18 hours. She then wove a collection of lies to hide her actions.
Sample of Abuse Emerges
Investigators uncovered 20,000 textual content messages revealing months of psychological torment. In a single October 2023 trade, Murphy threatened, “I’ll hunt you and kill you. If I ever see you once more, I’ll kill you.”
Self messaged his mom, Ashe Smith, 80, days earlier than his dying: “I need to sort things and ensure she’s OK.” Regardless of the abuse, he begged police in hospital to not pursue her, stating, “I suppose she’s my ex-girlfriend now.”
Murphy had a previous 2009 conviction for assault inflicting precise bodily hurt to a former accomplice. She manipulated Self right into a vegan food regimen, seized his telephone—as soon as hurling it at his face, inflicting a gash over his eye—and remoted him from family members, together with pressuring him to rehome his canine.
Household’s Heartbreaking Insights
Ashe Smith displays on her son’s disgrace: “James bore the stigma of being a sufferer of home abuse. He was ashamed. He wouldn’t ask for assist and that’s why he died. I don’t need anybody else to undergo that.”
She highlights the challenges males face: “I’ve realised now that feminine on male home abuse is way extra frequent than we predict. James saying he felt embarrassed and humiliated is essential to all this. Males discover it so troublesome to talk up. Males can come ahead, and they need to. There’s no disgrace in holding up your hand.”
The couple met years earlier when Murphy was 16, via her mom’s work with Self at Harrods and Liberty. Their romance ignited in April 2023 at a good friend’s memorial. Initially smitten, Self ignored early crimson flags like her jealousy and rages.
Smith remembers a household go to: “James was a reticent individual… However throughout the go to she by no means stopped speaking… She was simply completely manic.” Mates famous Self’s shift from outgoing to withdrawn.
Aftermath and Court docket Verdict
Six weeks post-attack, Self was discharged however quickly collapsed right into a coma, dying on December 21, 2023. Murphy, from Highgate, North London, confronted preliminary grievous bodily hurt prices, upgraded to homicide after his dying.
At Chelmsford Crown Court docket, following a nine-week trial, she obtained a life sentence with a minimal of 15 years. Smith expresses no hatred: “She has ruined our life, however she has ruined her life too. There aren’t any winners on this actually… All we wished was the jury to recognise what James went via and so they did.”
Elevating Consciousness on Male Victims
Workplace for Nationwide Statistics knowledge exhibits 21.8% of males—or about 5.2 million—skilled home abuse of their lifetime in 2024/25, comprising 42% of all victims. Smith urges schooling: “She desires the Authorities to teach girls and boys at school in regards to the ‘crimson flags’ of home abuse.”
For confidential help, name the 24-hour Nationwide Home Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or go to womensaid.co.uk. Should you or your loved ones have misplaced a beloved one to deadly home abuse, AAFDA affords specialist help at www.aafda.org.uk.
