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| Man guilty of plotting wife death | Man guilty of plotting wife death |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| A man plotted to murder his wife by encouraging his lover to stab her to death while he created an alibi at a friend's house, a jury has decided. | A man plotted to murder his wife by encouraging his lover to stab her to death while he created an alibi at a friend's house, a jury has decided. |
| Stephen Marsh denied the murder of Jaspal, 36, who was stabbed to death at their marital home in Gorseinon, Swansea, by his lover, Rebecca Harris. | Stephen Marsh denied the murder of Jaspal, 36, who was stabbed to death at their marital home in Gorseinon, Swansea, by his lover, Rebecca Harris. |
| Harris, 30, admitted the knife attack on 29 July 2006, but insisted she was persuaded to do so by Mr Marsh, 36. | Harris, 30, admitted the knife attack on 29 July 2006, but insisted she was persuaded to do so by Mr Marsh, 36. |
| Relatives and friends of the victim, reacted with a cry of "die in hell". | Relatives and friends of the victim, reacted with a cry of "die in hell". |
| The jury was told how Marsh and Harris met at the directory inquiries call centre in Swansea where they both worked. | The jury was told how Marsh and Harris met at the directory inquiries call centre in Swansea where they both worked. |
| During the eight months of their affair they had developed a sado-masochistic relationship. | During the eight months of their affair they had developed a sado-masochistic relationship. |
| Jaspal Marsh died after she was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom | Jaspal Marsh died after she was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom |
| Footage found on Marsh's mobile phone showed him cutting Harris with a knife as she lay tied to a bed - the same eight-inch bladed knife she later used to kill his wife. | |
| Harris confessed to the murder within a short time, telling detectives she had been persuaded to do it by Marsh. | Harris confessed to the murder within a short time, telling detectives she had been persuaded to do it by Marsh. |
| Harris, married to a 70-year-old with whom she has a young son, said she had eventually agreed, to "get her off his back." | Harris, married to a 70-year-old with whom she has a young son, said she had eventually agreed, to "get her off his back." |
| On the night of Jaspal Marsh's murder, she met her lover hours before she drove to their marital home where Marsh had arranged for the door to be left open. | On the night of Jaspal Marsh's murder, she met her lover hours before she drove to their marital home where Marsh had arranged for the door to be left open. |
| I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do, Rebecca Harris | I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do, Rebecca Harris |
| He sent her texts urging her on before finally sending one saying "Do it. Just do it." | He sent her texts urging her on before finally sending one saying "Do it. Just do it." |
| Harris told the court how the door of the couple's three-bedroom home was open when she turned the handle. | |
| Marsh had previously sent a text to his wife saying: "I'm still in the Potters with Andy. Just leave front door open. I'm getting a life home. Luv u." | Marsh had previously sent a text to his wife saying: "I'm still in the Potters with Andy. Just leave front door open. I'm getting a life home. Luv u." |
| The couple's dog was there but he was familiar with Harris from her previous visits to the house for illicit sex. | The couple's dog was there but he was familiar with Harris from her previous visits to the house for illicit sex. |
| "I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do," she said. | "I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do," she said. |
| Rebecca Harris told the court that Marsh was controlling her | Rebecca Harris told the court that Marsh was controlling her |
| "He (Marsh) told me to pick the largest one from the knife block. It was quiet. It was pitch black." | "He (Marsh) told me to pick the largest one from the knife block. It was quiet. It was pitch black." |
| But to her surprise when she reached the bedroom, Mrs Marsh was still awake. | But to her surprise when she reached the bedroom, Mrs Marsh was still awake. |
| "All of a sudden, she came flying off the bed straight for me." she said. | "All of a sudden, she came flying off the bed straight for me." she said. |
| "She pushed my head up against the chest of drawers, I had the knife in my hand and all I can remember is stabbing her once or twice." | "She pushed my head up against the chest of drawers, I had the knife in my hand and all I can remember is stabbing her once or twice." |
| After a short recess after she broke down in the dock, Harris told the court: "The moonlight was shining and in the bedroom I could see her eyes were glazed just motionless." | After a short recess after she broke down in the dock, Harris told the court: "The moonlight was shining and in the bedroom I could see her eyes were glazed just motionless." |
| Mrs Marsh had suffered 16 serious stab wounds to the chest and back, as well as six other deep stab wounds to her left arm and 13 superficial injuries. | Mrs Marsh had suffered 16 serious stab wounds to the chest and back, as well as six other deep stab wounds to her left arm and 13 superficial injuries. |
| Meanwhile, Marsh had tried to secure himself an alibi by arranging to go out with a friend. He was careful to send text messages explaining his movements to his wife, even after learning she was dead. | Meanwhile, Marsh had tried to secure himself an alibi by arranging to go out with a friend. He was careful to send text messages explaining his movements to his wife, even after learning she was dead. |
| My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way Sukhdeep Rehal | My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way Sukhdeep Rehal |
| Once Harris had run out of the house, she sent Marsh a text which read: "She screamed and fought I'm shaking so much." | Once Harris had run out of the house, she sent Marsh a text which read: "She screamed and fought I'm shaking so much." |
| "You're a star. I luv u," came his reply. | "You're a star. I luv u," came his reply. |
| Marsh stayed the night at his friend's house playing video games. He met up his lover the following morning, they went to work and then she gave him a lift home. | |
| "He was very, very cold towards me, as if he did not want to touch me. He did not kiss me, stroke my hand, nothing," she said. | "He was very, very cold towards me, as if he did not want to touch me. He did not kiss me, stroke my hand, nothing," she said. |
| Once inside the house, Marsh went to inspect his wife's body before calling police. | |
| Denying any involvement in her death, he claimed he loved his wife and that his numerous affairs were down to "stupidity". | Denying any involvement in her death, he claimed he loved his wife and that his numerous affairs were down to "stupidity". |
| He told the court: "She (Harris) knew how much I loved Jas. She was going to be my wife forever. | He told the court: "She (Harris) knew how much I loved Jas. She was going to be my wife forever. |
| About 30 police officers were involved in the murder inquiry | About 30 police officers were involved in the murder inquiry |
| And he had told police: "It would crucify me to lose Jas. I rely on her completely. I am hoping it was a random burglary that went wrong." | |
| But just as he had failed to convince police soon after they arrived at the murder scene, his words failed to convince the jury. | |
| Around two days later, Harris was arrested and soon afterwards she admitted the murder. She said Marsh had promised her a life together and threatened to kill her if she did not go through with it. | |
| Adjourning sentencing for three weeks, Judge Roderick Evans told Marsh: "You will appreciate that the only sentence I could pass is life imprisonment but I have to set a minimum term." | Adjourning sentencing for three weeks, Judge Roderick Evans told Marsh: "You will appreciate that the only sentence I could pass is life imprisonment but I have to set a minimum term." |
| He said that he would also sentence Harris at the same time. | He said that he would also sentence Harris at the same time. |
| Paying tribute to Jaspal, her brother Sukhdeep Rehal said: "My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way. | Paying tribute to Jaspal, her brother Sukhdeep Rehal said: "My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way. |
| "The world is a lonelier place without her," he added. |