18 years for murder pair

Lovers who plotted the death of Stourport lorry driver Reginald Southall to cover up their affair and steal his money were each sentenced today to life in prison – with no chance of release for at least 18 years.

Judge Colman Treacy QC said that Muriel Southall, 60, and Michael Whitcombe, 59, had carried out a wicked murder and should spend a minimum of 18 years in custody.

It means the couple, who had contested the case face the prospect of dying in jail.

The pair, who were wearing hearing aids to hear the judge's sentence at Worcester Crown Court, showed no emotion as they left the dock for the cells.

The judge said that 62-year-old Reginald Southall had been cheated on and lured to his death in the icy waters of the River Severn in December 2007.

His badly-injured body was found floating 12 days later.

The defendants who met at Stourport Caravan Park, had been "blinded by passion for each other" and decided to get rid of Mr Southall when he discovered what had been going on.

Both had contested their guilt and had been revealed as liars and perjurors. They had shown no regret or remorse. They had attempted to deflect the police investigation by lying to cover up what they had done.

The judge said there had been premeditation. For at least a day before Reginald Southall's death, they had been planning what they were going to do. Their motivation was to cover up their affair and financial gain was a subsidiary concern.

He added Mr Southall had been like a brother to Whitcombe in helping him to cope with the death of his wife from cancer. Southall had betrayed her husband of 42 years, father of her son and grandfather of her grandchildren.

The only mitigation was their ages and the fact they had no previous convictions.