A MONSTER wife has been found guilty of knifing her husband to death, stuffing his remains in a bag then burying him in the garden.
Maureen Rickards had recorded her horror abuse of husband Jeremy, 65, leading up to the attack at home in Canterbury, Kent.
Maureen Rickards has been convicted of murder
Kent PoliceJeremy was found buried under grass cuttings[/caption]
The 50-year-old had strangled Jeremy repeatedly and left him with rib fractures during a number of assaults.
Rickards has now been convicted of murder after stabbing the geologist in the chest and through the heart.
Canterbury Crown Court heard after killing her husband, the monster stuffed Jeremy, who was wearing just his underwear, in a cupboard in their bedroom.
She then wrapped him up in bin bags and transferred him to the garden where she buried him under grass cuttings.
Jeremy was reported missing by family and friends after he was last seen alive on June 7.
Callous Rickards even sent WhatsApp messages to their daughter Chima pretending to be her dad and claimed he was in Saudi Arabia.
She also later told Chima that Jeremy had taken his own life on June 9 in a shameless bid to cover up the murder.
His body was discovered on July 11 after police investigating his disappearance noticed a “sickly smell” in the garden.
The court was told in the lead-up to his death, Jeremy was seen in a “battered and bruised” state by a taxi driver and staff at his local pub.
Prosecutor Nick Corsellis KC said Rickards had subjected her husband to domestic abuse, which became “more severe” in his final days.
After her arrest, police found voice recordings on her phone taken as she berated her “frail and vulnerable” husband while he lay confused on the floor.
In one vile recording, Rickards could be heard “voicing her intent to harm and kill”.
On June 6, a neighbour saw Jeremy “profoundly” injured with a cut to his forehead and bruises to his eyes and ears.
When asked what happened, he allegedly replied: “Maureen was in a bad mood with me and with everyone.”
The geologist was reported missing the following day after he was seen returning home from work.
Police visited the home but found “no trace of [his] existence” – with Rickards claiming the pair were separated.
She also told them she had not spoken to Jeremy “for weeks” but was arrested for fraud after she used his bank cards.
Rickards purchased alcohol, cigarettes, Doritos, toilet paper, Febreze air freshener, and Vanish carpet shampoo with his money.
When she was re-arrested after Jeremy’s body was found, she asked officers: “Murder? Murder? Did you say murder? Found what body?”
Police later found Jeremy’s DNA on bloodstains on the carpet, the court heard.
Rickards’ DNA was also discovered on the bin bag where his body had been wrapped up.
A post mortem revealed Jeremy had suffered five stab wounds – two 11cm deep – as well as multiple fractured ribs, a fracture to a bone in his neck and a broken nose.
There was also a “sharp force” stab wound to his head in which metal fragments were present.
James Fisher from the Crown Prosecution Service South East said: “As we built the case against Maureen Rickards, we were able to unpick her web of lies, using forensic evidence and her actions before and after the murder, to paint the picture of a callous abuser, who subjected Jeremy to unimaginable pain and suffering.
“She subjected her partner to a campaign of sustained abuse, before viciously murdering him. The attacks on Jeremy became more severe in the run-up to his murder, leaving him frail, battered and bruised, with everyone who came into contact with him concerned for his well-being.
How to get help
Men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men’s Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm).
Alternatively, ring ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) or email [email protected]
“Maureen lied about the cruelty and violence she inflicted on Jeremy and was quick to dismiss any concerns, even claiming the injuries had come from a car accident.
“Maureen has never taken responsibility for her actions nor shown any remorse for murdering Jeremy. He was subjected to an appalling attack, after which Maureen set about trying to hide the evidence, even lying to their family that he had killed himself in Saudi Arabia, while all the time his body lay hidden in their garden.
“Despite her efforts to disguise what she had done, Maureen has today been brought to the justice for her husband’s brutal murder. Our thoughts remain with Jeremy’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
LinkedinThe killer wife will be sentenced at a later date[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
