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| Alethea Taylor's husband found guilty of her murder | Alethea Taylor's husband found guilty of her murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An undertaker has been found guilty of killing his wife at their bungalow and disposing of her body. | An undertaker has been found guilty of killing his wife at their bungalow and disposing of her body. |
| John Taylor, 61, was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years. | John Taylor, 61, was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years. |
| He had denied murdering his wife Alethea, who was last seen in Orleton, Herefordshire, in January 2012. Her body has never been found. | He had denied murdering his wife Alethea, who was last seen in Orleton, Herefordshire, in January 2012. Her body has never been found. |
| The month-long trial at Worcester Crown Court heard Taylor had been having an affair. | The month-long trial at Worcester Crown Court heard Taylor had been having an affair. |
| Taylor, of Mortimer Close in Orleton, Herefordshire, previously said he believed his 63-year-old wife was still missing. | Taylor, of Mortimer Close in Orleton, Herefordshire, previously said he believed his 63-year-old wife was still missing. |
| 'Web of lies' | 'Web of lies' |
| David Elliott, West Midlands Crown Prosecutor, described Taylor as a "deceitful man". | David Elliott, West Midlands Crown Prosecutor, described Taylor as a "deceitful man". |
| He said Taylor had "spun a web of lies" in order to avoid justice. | |
| "The defendant reported his wife missing from their family home and he claimed to the police she was suffering from dementia and had a habit of wandering off in a confused state. | "The defendant reported his wife missing from their family home and he claimed to the police she was suffering from dementia and had a habit of wandering off in a confused state. |
| "This was a blatant lie designed to explain away her disappearance," he said. | "This was a blatant lie designed to explain away her disappearance," he said. |
| He said Taylor was "unhappy in his marriage" and was having an affair. | He said Taylor was "unhappy in his marriage" and was having an affair. |
| "His wife found out and in a diary which was recovered from the house, Mrs Taylor highlighted her concerns at her husband's infidelity and the future of their marriage. | "His wife found out and in a diary which was recovered from the house, Mrs Taylor highlighted her concerns at her husband's infidelity and the future of their marriage. |
| "He even claimed to have tried to contact his wife by telephone several times when she disappeared. Cell site analysis showed that he had called her only once, a call which lasted eight seconds," Mr Elliott said. | "He even claimed to have tried to contact his wife by telephone several times when she disappeared. Cell site analysis showed that he had called her only once, a call which lasted eight seconds," Mr Elliott said. |
| Det Insp Dave Williams said West Mercia Police's investigation had been "complex and challenging" and added it was "not over yet". | |
| He said: "We will not rest until we find Alethea and I would urge Mr Taylor to do the right thing and tell us where she is so that those who loved her can have closure and peace of mind." | |
| Mrs Taylor's niece, Lorraine McKillop, said her aunt was missed "by a lot of family and friends". | |
| Ms McKillop said: "I find it very hard to understand why John would have done this. Why not just walk away, rather than the selfish act of leaving a lot of people wondering where she is? | |
| "It's not a very happy end to her life, when she has given so much to others, with still much more to give. | |
| "I hope some day that we can find her and put her to rest in the proper fashion that is so deserving of someone who helped and cared for others." | |
| Nosebleed claims | Nosebleed claims |
| During the trial the court head that Taylor had tried "to spread around" the idea his wife was "in some way, losing her mind". | During the trial the court head that Taylor had tried "to spread around" the idea his wife was "in some way, losing her mind". |
| But in written testimony Mrs Taylor's GP, Richard Dales, told the court she had no history of mental health problems. | But in written testimony Mrs Taylor's GP, Richard Dales, told the court she had no history of mental health problems. |
| The court heard she suffered only one episode related to mental health, when she complained of "work stress" as a primary school teacher in 2001. | The court heard she suffered only one episode related to mental health, when she complained of "work stress" as a primary school teacher in 2001. |
| Taylor had denied prosecution claims that he had changed his story over bloodstains found on their bed. | Taylor had denied prosecution claims that he had changed his story over bloodstains found on their bed. |
| He told the court he accepted he told police that days before his wife went missing, he had found her sitting on her side of the bed, with a "horrendous" nosebleed. | He told the court he accepted he told police that days before his wife went missing, he had found her sitting on her side of the bed, with a "horrendous" nosebleed. |
| Forensic officers did find Mrs Taylor's dried blood, but on her husband's side of the bed, the court heard. | Forensic officers did find Mrs Taylor's dried blood, but on her husband's side of the bed, the court heard. |
| Michael Burrows, prosecuting, asked Taylor how he could have a better recollection of the incident now than then. | Michael Burrows, prosecuting, asked Taylor how he could have a better recollection of the incident now than then. |
| Taylor said it was due to "the pressure at the time, being interviewed". | Taylor said it was due to "the pressure at the time, being interviewed". |