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| Man guilty of plotting wife death | Man guilty of plotting wife death |
| (10 minutes 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 in July 2006, but insisted she had been persuaded to do so by Mr Marsh, 36. | Harris, 30, admitted the knife attack in July 2006, but insisted she had been 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 had developed a sado-masochistic relationship. | During the eight months of their affair 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 |
| Mobile phone footage found on Marsh's 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. | Mobile phone footage found on Marsh's 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 with 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 with 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 was unlocked just as Mr Marsh had said it would be and that the couple's dog was there but he was familiar with her from previous visits to the house for illicit sex. | Harris told the court how the door was unlocked just as Mr Marsh had said it would be and that the couple's dog was there but he was familiar with her from 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. |
| "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." |
| Rebecca Harris told the court that Marsh was controlling her | Rebecca Harris told the court that Marsh was controlling her |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| Marsh stayed the night at his friend's house playing video games. He met up with his lover the following morning, and she gave him a lift home. | Marsh stayed the night at his friend's house playing video games. He met up with his lover the following morning, and she gave him a lift home. |
| Mrs Marsh died of multiple stab wounds at the Gorseinon 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 dead body before calling the police. | Once inside the house, Marsh went to inspect his wife's dead body before calling the 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. |
| "It would crucify me to lose Jas. I rely on her completely. I am hoping it was a random burglary that went wrong." | "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 it had failed to convince police soon after they arrived at the murder scene, his words failed to convince the jury. | But just as it had failed to convince police soon after they arrived at the murder scene, his words failed to convince the jury. |
| 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. |