News
Gemma Johnson Porn Star 'Encouraged Husband to Kill Himself'
Published: Dec 17, 2004 - 08:21 PM
A 21-year-old porn star fed her disabled husband paracetamol and made him a noose to hang himself because she wanted his money, Bristol Crown Court heard today.
Gemma Johnson showed “no mercy” when she “aggressively” encouraged her porn film producer husband James Edwards, who was born with spina bifida, to kill himself, the court heard.
Gemma Johnson showed “no mercy” when she “aggressively” encouraged her porn film producer husband James Edwards, who was born with spina bifida, to kill himself, the court heard.
Giving evidence, an emotional Mr Edwards, 38, said Johnson was “angry” when his suicide attempts failed and told him she would be better off without him.
In a text message she sent three days before Mr Edwards attempted suicide, she said: “Why don’t you get on with it. It would make a lot of people happier. You’ve made a lot of people’s lives hell over the last few months.”
Johnson pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting Mr Edwards’s suicide attempt on December 4, 2003, at his home in Bradley Stoke, Bristol.
Prosecuting, Andrew MacFarlan said Johnson forced Mr Edwards to make a will a month before he attempted suicide. The couple, who had married in February 2003, split up in August when their relationship became violent.
According to the will, she would inherit £80,000 cash, Edwards’s home which was worth £300,000, and his two life insurance policies worth up to £400,000 in total.
Mr Edwards, who directed films and appeared with Johnson, told the jury he wanted to die because he still loved her and wanted to make her happy.
He said: “I was very upset and depressed because I loved Gemma very much. I was sad the relationship had ended. I felt it was better for Gemma if I wasn’t about. She agreed that things would be better if I wasn’t around.”
The court heard how Mr Edwards agreed with Johnson that she would take a day off work and come to his home to wait while he committed suicide using paracetamol.
Johnson supplied Mr Edwards with white and red paracetamol pills then fed him them one by one, Mr MacFarlan said.
The court heard that Mr Edwards met Johnson through her parents when she was 15.
In a text message she sent three days before Mr Edwards attempted suicide, she said: “Why don’t you get on with it. It would make a lot of people happier. You’ve made a lot of people’s lives hell over the last few months.”
Johnson pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting Mr Edwards’s suicide attempt on December 4, 2003, at his home in Bradley Stoke, Bristol.
Prosecuting, Andrew MacFarlan said Johnson forced Mr Edwards to make a will a month before he attempted suicide. The couple, who had married in February 2003, split up in August when their relationship became violent.
According to the will, she would inherit £80,000 cash, Edwards’s home which was worth £300,000, and his two life insurance policies worth up to £400,000 in total.
Mr Edwards, who directed films and appeared with Johnson, told the jury he wanted to die because he still loved her and wanted to make her happy.
He said: “I was very upset and depressed because I loved Gemma very much. I was sad the relationship had ended. I felt it was better for Gemma if I wasn’t about. She agreed that things would be better if I wasn’t around.”
The court heard how Mr Edwards agreed with Johnson that she would take a day off work and come to his home to wait while he committed suicide using paracetamol.
Johnson supplied Mr Edwards with white and red paracetamol pills then fed him them one by one, Mr MacFarlan said.
The court heard that Mr Edwards met Johnson through her parents when she was 15.
