Family Feud: Sister's Offensive Phone Message To Deceased Brother's Ex

A retired schoolteacher left an insulting four-letter telephone message to her deceased brother's ex around the time she was also responsible bust-up at the funeral over the custody of his ashes.

Suzanne Couves, 61, of Belvedere Close, Gravesend claim she was left suicidal by the animosity between her and Kathy Hay, who had lived with her late brother for twenty-nine years.

She pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court to communicating an indecent or offensive message on or before November 2, last year for the purposes of causing distress or anxiety.

Couves telephoned a Scottish address she believed Kathy was staying at saying: “I think she's the most murdering c*** that walks on this f***ing earth.”

Her brother passed away in Scotland on September 9, last year and the message was first heard on November 2, a week after Couves was responsible for trouble at the Highland wake at Dornoch Inn.

She claims she left the message on September 29, which would put her outside the six-month deferred sentence imposed at Tain Sheriff Court, for threatening behaviour.

On that occasion she brandished a walking stick at her brother's son – her nephew – while shouting: “I want his f***ing ashes. I'm going to kill you.”

Prosecutor Miss Remi Ogunfowora told the court the message was left at the home of Jean Dimmer. “When she arrived back home on November the second she played her answerphone and recognised the voice of Suzanne Couves.”

The police were called and Couves was questioned in february. “She confirmed the death of her brother and admitted she left the message.

“She said she did not think it was offensive, but was very, very upset and had been terribly upset in Scotland and was blaming Kathy Hay for her brother's death.

“She said she was on anti-depressants, was receiving counselling and had agrophobia and assumed Kathy Hay was staying with Mrs Dimmer and that's why she left the message.

“She said she could not care less at the time of the message. She was suicidal.”

Couves produced a supporting letter from her local Tory MP Adam Holloway to the court, which heard her late brother was one of six siblings and three had already passed away.

“The family was ripped apart because of the lack of clarity about what he wanted done with the ashes,” said Miss Bhadua Chudasama, defending.

“However, prior to him dying the family was already ripped apart and she held Kathy Hay responsible for that rift and there were Family Court proceedings over access and contact.

“At the funeral she was told she would not be able to say anything and she knew her brother's wishes about his ashes, there is a family plot.”

Couves still earns a living in teaching as a part-time tutor, but the criminal convictions could hamper her career.

“She sees her future disintegrating before her eyes. She is subject to criminal record checks and these proceedings are going to weigh heavily on her future.”

The magistrates agreed the offence was “out of character” for the first-time offender and fined Couves £155, with £85 costs and ordered her to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

She was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting contact with Kathy Hay and Jean Dimmer.