Husband Guilty Of Killing Russian-Born Pianist Strelchenko

The husband of internationally renowned concert pianist Natalia Strelchenko has been convicted of murdering his wife.

A jury on March 18 found Norwegian double bass player John Martin guilty of murdering Russia-born Strelchenko at the couple's home in Manchester on their second wedding anniversary in August 2015.

Martin will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on March 21.

A witness said she saw Martin push 38-year-old Strelchenko down the stairs, repeatedly punch his wife and say "I want to kill her." Strelchenko died in hospital.

Martin claimed he had no recollection of the killing after taking a mix of alcohol and diazepam, which he had mistaken for his antidepressant medication.

Strelchenko, who used the stage name Strelle, studied at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory and made her debut with the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP