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Life sentence for murdering wife Life sentence for murdering wife
(about 1 hour later)
A "jealous" husband has been jailed for life for murdering his wife and trying to murder his two-year-old son.A "jealous" husband has been jailed for life for murdering his wife and trying to murder his two-year-old son.
Craig Bidgway, 38, of Abercynon, south Wales, strangled Danielle, 32, after she said she was leaving him for her lover. He had admitted manslaughter.Craig Bidgway, 38, of Abercynon, south Wales, strangled Danielle, 32, after she said she was leaving him for her lover. He had admitted manslaughter.
But Bidgway had denied murder, claiming he was provoked into killing his wife.But Bidgway had denied murder, claiming he was provoked into killing his wife.
Judge Mr Justice Davies told Cardiff Crown Court Bidgway's actions were "utterly unjustifiable" and ordered he serve a minimum of 14 years in jail.Judge Mr Justice Davies told Cardiff Crown Court Bidgway's actions were "utterly unjustifiable" and ordered he serve a minimum of 14 years in jail.
The court had previously heard Mrs Bidgway, who had two children with her husband, had had a year-long affair with ex-boyfriend Anthony Williams and had split her time between two houses, but her husband believed she had returned home for good.The court had previously heard Mrs Bidgway, who had two children with her husband, had had a year-long affair with ex-boyfriend Anthony Williams and had split her time between two houses, but her husband believed she had returned home for good.
However Bidgway "snapped" when his wife, a cafe owner in Pontypridd, offered him £40,000 to buy out his part of their home and told him he could start a new life with someone else.However Bidgway "snapped" when his wife, a cafe owner in Pontypridd, offered him £40,000 to buy out his part of their home and told him he could start a new life with someone else.
In a taped police interview, played to the jury at the trial last December, Bidgway told how he strangled his wife of 10 years while they lay in bed on 15 April this year. In a taped police interview, played to the jury at the trial last December, Bidgway told how he strangled his wife of 10 years while they lay in bed on 15 April last year.
Bidgway suffocated her with a pillow and then put a plastic bag over her head before having sex with her body, the jury was told.Bidgway suffocated her with a pillow and then put a plastic bag over her head before having sex with her body, the jury was told.
Danielle Bidgway was a loving mother, her family saidDanielle Bidgway was a loving mother, her family said
The trial heard Bidgway tried to suffocate his sleeping son, two, but stopped when he woke up. The trial heard Bidgway tried to suffocate his sleeping son, then two, but stopped when he woke up.
Bidgway then wrapped black plastic DIY ties around his neck in a bid to end his own life but failed because his hands were too sweaty to pull them tight, the court heard.Bidgway then wrapped black plastic DIY ties around his neck in a bid to end his own life but failed because his hands were too sweaty to pull them tight, the court heard.
He rang his mother who went to the house and called police.He rang his mother who went to the house and called police.
Mr Justice Davies told Bidgway on Monday: "This has been a tragic case and horrifying case, horrifying for yourself and for others. Mr Justice Davies told Bidgway, who sobbed throughout Monday's hearing: "This has been a tragic case and horrifying case, horrifying for yourself and for others.
"You were a loving father and a loving husband and wanted to be a family man. I accept your wife's relationship with another man must have been a torment for you."You were a loving father and a loving husband and wanted to be a family man. I accept your wife's relationship with another man must have been a torment for you.
"You let your feelings of jealousy, anger and possessiveness get the better of you."You let your feelings of jealousy, anger and possessiveness get the better of you.
"Nothing she said or did could justify what you did. It is utterly unjustifiable.""Nothing she said or did could justify what you did. It is utterly unjustifiable."
We know she was a loving mother whose life and emotions were torn between her love for her two beautiful children and her love for another man Phil Brealey, Mrs Bidgway's step-father
The judge told the court Bidgway's attitude was if he could not have his wife, no-one could.The judge told the court Bidgway's attitude was if he could not have his wife, no-one could.
He added: "Your children have lost a mother and her parents have lost their daughter.He added: "Your children have lost a mother and her parents have lost their daughter.
"You suffocated and strangled her. You then had sex with her body. While people will be revolted by that, it reflects your highly possessive attitude towards your wife and your state of mind."You suffocated and strangled her. You then had sex with her body. While people will be revolted by that, it reflects your highly possessive attitude towards your wife and your state of mind.
"But this in no way explains you trying to suffocate your own son, a two-year-old boy in his own cot. "But this in no way explains you trying to suffocate your own son, a two-year-old boy in his own cot."
"You know that what you did has had a much greater effect on others than just on yourself. It appears you have not be able to come to terms with what you have done." Until the day I die I will never forget what he did to Danielle and the boys Penelope Brealey
Bidgway had been declared psychologically unfit to give evidence at his trial after breaking down a number of times in the dock and spent most of the trial in the cells.Bidgway had been declared psychologically unfit to give evidence at his trial after breaking down a number of times in the dock and spent most of the trial in the cells.
After the guilty verdicts, Phil Brealey, Danielle Bidgway's stepfather, said his family was glad "justice had prevailed". Prosecuting, Peter Murphy said Bidgway had served a 12-month jail term for grievous bodily harm in December 1992 after attacking someone he thought was seeing his wife.
"We know she was a loving mother whose life and emotions were torn between her love for her two beautiful children and her love for another man," he said. The court heard a victim impact statement from Mrs Bidgway's mother Penelope Brealey, who now looks after her two grandchildren.
"Whatever you might think about her lifestyle, one thing is certain - she did not deserve to suffer such a horrific death as a result." She said: "If you love someone you don't do that. Until the day I die I will never forget what he did to Danielle and the boys."
She added: "It is hard work looking after the boys. If we don't look after them they will go into care."
Mrs Brealey said it was months before they could tell one of the boys that his mother "had gone to heaven." The court heard he subsequently let a balloon off into the sky for his mother.
She also said they were worried about the other boy's health as he has been given inhalers for breathing difficulties he developed since his mother's death.
"We can never have a normal life in Abercynon and we can never have a normal life again," she added.
Defending, Lucy Crowther said Bidgway had shown "real remorse and distress for his actions".
""Not for himself but for the loss of Danielle and the loss he caused his children and for the loss he caused Danielle's family and the loss he has caused his own family," she told the court.
"He knows he is unlikely to have any relationship with his children in the future and that is a cause of great distress for they are the reason he strove so hard to keep his family together in circumstances that must have been difficult for everybody concerned."