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| Lovers' 30-year murder sentence | |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A cheating husband and his lover have been jailed for a total of 30 years for plotting and murdering his wife. | |
| Stephen Marsh, 36, was sentenced to 18 years for persuading Rebecca Harris, 30, to stab his wife Jaspal to death at the marital home in Gorseinon, Swansea. | |
| Harris was given a 12-year sentence for carrying out the July 2006 murder. | |
| Passing sentence at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Roderick Price said: "It was a well-planned killing - I'm tempted to say an execution." | |
| It is chilling to think of you - a young mother - driving to Gorseinon to carry out a murder in a manner that was so violent Judge Roderick Price | |
| He told Marsh: "You are manipulative and devious and persuaded Rebecca to kill Jaspal." | |
| Turning to Harris, he said: "You were influenced by him. No doubt you knew full well what you were about. | |
| "It is chilling to think of you - a young mother - driving to Gorseinon to carry out a murder in a manner that was so violent." | |
| She ran crying from the dock as shouts and screams came from the public gallery as her sentence was announced. | |
| Speaking outside the court Mrs Marsh's brother, Sukhdeep Rehal, 34, who lives with his family in the London area, said they were unhappy with the sentence. | |
| The sentence feels like a smack in the face Sukhdeep Rehal | |
| "Whilst acknowledging that nothing will bring my sister back, the punishment handed out does not, in our opinion, fit the crime," he said. | |
| "My sister was killed as a result of a planned and premeditated act. | |
| "Whilst justice was done when the guilty verdict was reached, the sentence feels like a smack in the face to everyone involved with bringing the pair to justice, and we are all extremely disappointed." | |
| Marsh had denied involvement in his wife's death, but his month-long trial heard evidence of text messages he sent to Harris on the night of the killing urging her to "do it". | |
| Jaspal Marsh, 36, was stabbed 16 times with a knife her husband and Harris had used in sado-masochistic sex games. | Jaspal Marsh, 36, was stabbed 16 times with a knife her husband and Harris had used in sado-masochistic sex games. |
| Urged on | |
| Stephen Marsh and Harris met at a call centre in Swansea where they both worked and began an eight-month affair. | |
| Footage found on Marsh's mobile phone showed him cutting Harris with a knife as she lay tied to a bed. | Footage found on Marsh's mobile phone showed him cutting Harris with a knife as she lay tied to a bed. |
| Jaspal Marsh was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom | Jaspal Marsh was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom |
| The trial heard that on the night of the murder, 29 July 2006, the pair had met before Harris drove to the Marsh family home in Gorseinon where Stephen Marsh had arranged for the door to be left open. | The trial heard that on the night of the murder, 29 July 2006, the pair had met before Harris drove to the Marsh family home in Gorseinon where Stephen Marsh had arranged for the door to be left open. |
| Marsh went to a Swansea city centre pub from where he sent his accomplice text messages urging her on, including one explaining which kitchen knife to use. | |
| Finally, he sent her a message saying: "Do it. Just do it." | |
| After stabbing Jaspal Marsh to death in her bedroom, Harris sent Stephen Marsh a text which read: "She screamed and fought I'm shaking so much." | After stabbing Jaspal Marsh to death in her bedroom, Harris sent Stephen 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. |
| Two days later, Harris was arrested and admitted carrying out the murder, insisting Marsh had persuaded her to carry out the attack. | Two days later, Harris was arrested and admitted carrying out the murder, insisting Marsh had persuaded her to carry out the attack. |
| She gave evidence against Marsh at his trial in March and April this year after which a jury found him guilty of murder. | She gave evidence against Marsh at his trial in March and April this year after which a jury found him guilty of murder. |