Norwich Woman Stabbed Estranged Husband After He Said He Had Euthanized Their Rescue Dogs

Claire Bridger, 64, a nurse from Taverham near Norwich, was convicted of wounding with intent after stabbing her estranged husband when he told her he had their rescue dogs put down. A jury acquitted her of attempted murder on Jan. 13, 2026, but found her guilty of the lesser charge. Sentencing is set for March 20, 2026.

What Happened

The attack occurred on July 17, 2025, after Bridger returned to her husband Keith Bridger’s home to drop off some of their daughters' belongings following the couple’s separation in April 2025. Bridger told jurors she noticed the usual barking was absent and, when she asked about the dogs, was told the vet had written and that the animals had been euthanized.

Bridger’s Account

Bridger told the court she drank a double gin and tonic before visiting. She described an overwhelming reaction when she learned the dogs were dead: “It was like an explosion in my head.” She said she blacked out, then grabbed a bent knife from a trash bag in her car and stabbed Keith in the chest and abdomen. During a 999 call played at trial, she is heard shouting, “You killed my dogs!”

Legal Proceedings and Evidence

She was arrested and charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent. At trial, Bridger accepted she had assaulted her husband and told her defence counsel she intended to cause “really serious harm.” The defence presented a psychiatric assessment that concluded a combination of alcohol and extreme emotional arousal might have produced amnesia for the event; the expert suggested this could explain Bridger’s claimed blackout but did not excuse the act.

Background Context

The couple had been married for nearly 40 years and were attending mediation after separating. The two rescue dogs — described in court as having behavioural issues — had been left in Keith’s care while Bridger stayed with relatives in London for several weeks. Bridger said her daughters had previously told her they were struggling to manage the dogs and had urged her to collect them; she said she did not believe they would have agreed to euthanasia.

Outcome

On Jan. 13, 2026, the jury acquitted Bridger of attempted murder but convicted her of wounding with intent. She faces sentencing on March 20, 2026. The case prompted national and local media coverage and raises complex questions about grief, separation, alcohol, and criminal responsibility.

Note: This account is based on courtroom testimony and reporting from multiple outlets. Dates and legal outcomes reflect reporting from the trial.