Emmerdale viewers are convinced Belle Dingle didn’t attack Tom King with an axe, and have a new suspect in mind – and it’s someone who’s been in the village for years

Emmerdale fans are speculating that Belle Dingle didn’t actually attack her evil ex-husband Tom King with an axe, and it’s another villager

who did the deed. Tom (played by James Chase) has been tormenting and abusing his now ex-wife Belle (portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper) for months. She finally bravely confessed the truth to her family and broke things off with Tom, desperate to break free from his control.

Earlier this week, Belle courageously decided to report Tom’s abuse to the police after finding hidden cameras in her cottage, proof that he had been spying on her. However, when Tom’s new flame, Amelia Spencer (played by Daisy Campbell), discovered Belle’s plan to speak to the police, she spilled the beans to him. Later, in a terrifying twist of events, Tom let himself into the Dingle house, leaving Belle frozen with fear.

Tom then assaulted Belle in awful scenes, but it wasn’t long before Belle spotted and seized a chance to escape, grabbing a nearby hunting rifle, reports the Daily Star.

Evil Tom quickly followed with an axe in hand. Belle found refuge in a shed, but Tom found her and and, in a shocking move, hacked down the door to get in. Meanwhile, in the village, Belle’s family, Sam (James Hooton), Lydia (Karen Blick) and Vinny (Bradley Johnson) were left horrified after learning from Amelia that Tom was at the house with Belle, and rushed to her.

In a tense face-off, Tom dropped his axe, taunting Belle to shoot him. She squeezed the trigger only for the safety catch to kick in, sparing Tom. The drama didn’t end there though as Tom gloated and admired his reflection in a fragmented mirror, before an axe was plunged into his back.

The show left viewers reeling as the camera turned to reveal a stunned Belle, leading many fans to speculate if she really was the one who delivered the blow. Viewers have taken too social media, desperately trying to piece together clues.

One viewer was quick to dismiss Belle as the culprit saying: “After watching it over and over again I don’t think it was Belle.”

Some pointed their fingers at Vinny as the possible attacker, with one viewer excitedly proposing, “I didn’t expect that but I don’t think Bell killed him it might be Vinny.”

Others echoed the sentiment, questioning the likelihood of anyone else reaching the scene in time. One person said: “I don’t think it was Belle…maybe Vinny.” Another simply stated: “I think Vinnie!”.