A domestic violence perpetrator has been convicted of murdering her partner inside a hotel room.

James Self, 47, succumbed to his injuries six weeks after being assaulted by Polly Murphy in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on November 8, 2023.

According to Essex Police, Murphy had launched a “prolonged campaign of abuse” against Self and had become “increasingly unstable” in the weeks preceding the murder.

Murphy, 42, a resident of Hornsey Lane Gardens in Highgate, London, is scheduled to receive her sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 4.

The verdict was reached on Tuesday following a four-week trial at the same court.

After the jury announced their decision, Self’s mother, Ashe, remarked, “Like many men, James felt shame about the control and violence he was enduring.”

“Tragically, he never sought help.”

Self, who also hailed from London, sustained several serious injuries during the assault at the hotel on Hartley Brook Road. He passed away in the hospital on December 21, 2023.

The jury was shown text messages that revealed Murphy’s extensive attempts to dominate her partner, according to Essex Police.

He bore injuries from previous assaults by Murphy prior to the fatal incident as well.

Ashe Self expressed her sorrow, noting that she had seen her son transform from a “sociable, happy individual to a sad, uncertain, and withdrawn person.”

She further commented, “Knowing James as intimately as I do, I recognize that he likely did not fully grasp the violence or how to confront it.”

“He believed that loving her would suffice. James, as always, saw the good in people.”

“His compassion may have ultimately cost him his life.”

Detective Anthony Kopf, who spearheaded the investigation into Murphy, remarked that the family exhibited remarkable dignity amidst “the most difficult evidence.”

He added, “This case highlights the fact that domestic abuse can affect anyone, including men.”