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Lovers jailed over river murder Lovers jailed over river murder
(about 3 hours later)
A woman and her lover who murdered her husband of more than 40 years have been jailed for life.A woman and her lover who murdered her husband of more than 40 years have been jailed for life.
Reginald Southall's badly beaten body was found in the River Severn in Stourport, Worcestershire, in December 2007, Worcester Crown Court was told.Reginald Southall's badly beaten body was found in the River Severn in Stourport, Worcestershire, in December 2007, Worcester Crown Court was told.
Muriel Southall, 59, and Michael Whitcombe, 58, both from Stourport, were convicted of murder and perverting the course of justice on Tuesday.Muriel Southall, 59, and Michael Whitcombe, 58, both from Stourport, were convicted of murder and perverting the course of justice on Tuesday.
Mr Justice Treacy said they would each serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.Mr Justice Treacy said they would each serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.
He told the pair: "You have both been convicted of a wicked murder of a man who both of you had betrayed."He told the pair: "You have both been convicted of a wicked murder of a man who both of you had betrayed."
The jury took four hours to unanimously convict Southall, of Redstone Lane, and Whitcombe, a widower, of Worcester Road, who claimed to be Mr Southall's "best friend".The jury took four hours to unanimously convict Southall, of Redstone Lane, and Whitcombe, a widower, of Worcester Road, who claimed to be Mr Southall's "best friend".
'Night walk' 'Hand of friendship'
Mr Southall, a 62-year-old grandfather, had been subjected to severe violence before being dumped in the river, the court had heard.Mr Southall, a 62-year-old grandfather, had been subjected to severe violence before being dumped in the river, the court had heard.
A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered serious injuries, but ultimately died as a result of drowning. A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered serious injuries and died as a result of drowning.
He was murdered for "sex and money" and so the couple could begin a new life together, the jury was told. In sentencing, Mr Treacy said: "You, Muriel Southall, betrayed your husband of over 40 years, the father of your son, the grandfather of your grandchildren.
Mrs Southall claimed her husband had disappeared after the pair went for a night river walk on 4 December, 2007. "You, Michael Whitcombe, betrayed a man who had extended the hand of friendship to you in your hour of need...and who thought of you as a brother."
She said she had decided to return to their caravan, while he continued alone, and defence lawyers claimed that was when Mr Southall had an accident. He added they had contested their guilt to the "bitter end" but had been revealed as "liars and perjurers".
His body was recovered from the river on 22 December 2007, 12 days after he went missing. 'Tragic victim'
Mr Southall was murdered for "sex and money" so the couple could begin a new life together, the jury was told.
Mrs Southall claimed he disappeared after he continued alone after a night river walk on 4 December, 2007.
Defence lawyers claimed that was when Mr Southall had an accident.
His body was recovered from the river 12 days later.
Following sentencing, Det Insp Dean Jones of West Mercia Police said they were pleased justice has been done for Reginald Southall.
"He was a decent, modest, hard-working man who had a vision of retiring to an idyllic and tranquil life at Stourport with his wife, who he loved to bits.
"However that was not to be and he became, as we now know, the tragic victim of his wife's greed and lust for someone else."
He added that it was "complex case" with no witnesses and no forensic scene to investigate.