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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones guilty of US wife's murder | Gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones guilty of US wife's murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A professional poker player has pleaded guilty to murdering his American wife. | A professional poker player has pleaded guilty to murdering his American wife. |
| Marcus Bebb-Jones, of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had previously denied killing Sabrina Bebb-Jones in 1997 and dumping her body in a US national park. | Marcus Bebb-Jones, of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had previously denied killing Sabrina Bebb-Jones in 1997 and dumping her body in a US national park. |
| Mrs Bebb-Jones's skull was found in 2004 near Douglas Pass in north-west Colorado. Her husband was arrested at his Worcestershire home in 2009. | Mrs Bebb-Jones's skull was found in 2004 near Douglas Pass in north-west Colorado. Her husband was arrested at his Worcestershire home in 2009. |
| The 49-year-old lost his appeal against extradition in 2011. His trial had been postponed from November. | The 49-year-old lost his appeal against extradition in 2011. His trial had been postponed from November. |
| Bebb-Jones entered his plea on Friday and is due to be sentenced on 1 May. | Bebb-Jones entered his plea on Friday and is due to be sentenced on 1 May. |
| Plea bargain | Plea bargain |
| Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, the district attorney in Garfield County, Sheri Caloia said: "We are happy we can get on with sentencing now. | Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, the district attorney in Garfield County, Sheri Caloia said: "We are happy we can get on with sentencing now. |
| "Since the skull was discovered it's taken three and a half years to bring [the case] to fruition." | "Since the skull was discovered it's taken three and a half years to bring [the case] to fruition." |
| She explained that Bebb-Jones had pleaded guilty to second degree murder using a plea bargain. | She explained that Bebb-Jones had pleaded guilty to second degree murder using a plea bargain. |
| Ms Caloia said: "The plea affects the sentencing in that it reduces the number of years the judge can give Mr Bebb-Jones. | Ms Caloia said: "The plea affects the sentencing in that it reduces the number of years the judge can give Mr Bebb-Jones. |
| "Pleading to first degree murder would be a life sentence but this charge of second degree murder with provocation carries a maximum of 32 years. | "Pleading to first degree murder would be a life sentence but this charge of second degree murder with provocation carries a maximum of 32 years. |
| "We've stipulated the judge would be limited to a maximum of 20 years." | "We've stipulated the judge would be limited to a maximum of 20 years." |
| 'Playboy weekend' | |
| It is understood Bebb-Jones has blamed the murder on "heat of passion". | |
| Ms Caloia said: "He's not explained what he means by that, I anticipate he would do so at sentencing in order to explain why he believes a lower sentence should be imposed." | |
| In recent years Bebb-Jones had been known for a stint on the online and casino poker circuit, winning thousands of pounds in prize money. | |
| Following his wife's disappearance, he went on a Las Vegas "playboy weekend", partially funded by his wife's credit cards. | |
| He then shot himself in the head in a failed suicide attempt. | |
| Bebb-Jones had been living in Colorado with his wife and their son, Daniel, who was three when his mother vanished. | |
| The couple owned the Hotel Melrose in Grand Junction and Bebb-Jones moved back to the UK with his son in 1998, after selling the hotel. |