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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Widow guilty of murdering earl | Widow guilty of murdering earl |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The widow of the Earl of Shaftesbury and her brother have each been jailed for 25 years after being found guilty of his murder by a French court. | The widow of the Earl of Shaftesbury and her brother have each been jailed for 25 years after being found guilty of his murder by a French court. |
| Anthony Ashley-Cooper's third wife, former nightclub hostess Jamila M'Barek, 45, had denied paying her brother Mohammed to murder her husband. | Anthony Ashley-Cooper's third wife, former nightclub hostess Jamila M'Barek, 45, had denied paying her brother Mohammed to murder her husband. |
| They had claimed the 10th Earl of Shaftesbury, who had homes in Hove and London, died during a drunken row. | They had claimed the 10th Earl of Shaftesbury, who had homes in Hove and London, died during a drunken row. |
| His badly-decomposed body was found in a remote ravine in the Alps in 2005. | His badly-decomposed body was found in a remote ravine in the Alps in 2005. |
| I don't understand how people can place no value on human life, and I truly pity them Nicholas Ashley-Cooper href="/1/hi/england/6693813.stm">Sex and money murder tale | |
| The prosecution said Ms M'Barek paid her brother 150,000 euros (£105,000) to kill the earl, because he was in the process of divorcing her and denying her the chance to inherit valuable properties in France and Ireland. | The prosecution said Ms M'Barek paid her brother 150,000 euros (£105,000) to kill the earl, because he was in the process of divorcing her and denying her the chance to inherit valuable properties in France and Ireland. |
| The 66-year-old playboy aristocrat went missing from his hotel on the French Riviera on 5 November 2004. | The 66-year-old playboy aristocrat went missing from his hotel on the French Riviera on 5 November 2004. |
| The body was found five months later. | The body was found five months later. |
| Mr M'Barek, 43, admitted killing him, but said he strangled him "accidentally". | Mr M'Barek, 43, admitted killing him, but said he strangled him "accidentally". |
| "I did everything I could to try and save him - I gave him mouth-to-mouth," he told the court in Nice. | "I did everything I could to try and save him - I gave him mouth-to-mouth," he told the court in Nice. |
| Ms M'Barek denied she had married the Earl for money, saying she had always been prosperous and marrying him was a "curse". | Ms M'Barek denied she had married the Earl for money, saying she had always been prosperous and marrying him was a "curse". |
| Mohammed and Jamila M'Barek said the earl died in a drunken row | Mohammed and Jamila M'Barek said the earl died in a drunken row |
| Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the late peer's second son and now the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, said he did not believe Ms M'Barek ever loved his father. | Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the late peer's second son and now the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, said he did not believe Ms M'Barek ever loved his father. |
| "I believe that she is manipulative and scheming, and ultimately an evil person," he said. | "I believe that she is manipulative and scheming, and ultimately an evil person," he said. |
| The 29-year-old sat in court throughout the four-day hearing with his mother Christina Cassell and aunt, Lady Frances Ashley-Cooper. | The 29-year-old sat in court throughout the four-day hearing with his mother Christina Cassell and aunt, Lady Frances Ashley-Cooper. |
| "During this trial we have heard the words of Mohammed and Jamila and we have seen the evidence brought before us," he said. | "During this trial we have heard the words of Mohammed and Jamila and we have seen the evidence brought before us," he said. |
| "It further confirms the type of people we thought they were - cold, deceitful, and without compassion for a man they murdered and betrayed. | "It further confirms the type of people we thought they were - cold, deceitful, and without compassion for a man they murdered and betrayed. |
| "I don't understand how people can place no value on human life, and I truly pity them." | "I don't understand how people can place no value on human life, and I truly pity them." |
| Speaking after verdict his said: "I believe justice was done and we are satisfied with the 25 year sentences given to both defendants. | Speaking after verdict his said: "I believe justice was done and we are satisfied with the 25 year sentences given to both defendants. |
| "During the trial we heard a lot of excuses and I don't think we saw any remorse or compassion from the accused, but I was expecting that from the kind of people they are." | "During the trial we heard a lot of excuses and I don't think we saw any remorse or compassion from the accused, but I was expecting that from the kind of people they are." |
| Franck de Vita, Ms M'Barek's lawyer, said it was a "bad day for justice", and added that his client would be launching an appeal. | Franck de Vita, Ms M'Barek's lawyer, said it was a "bad day for justice", and added that his client would be launching an appeal. |