This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36389763
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Susan Whiting death: Woman guilty of manslaughter | Susan Whiting death: Woman guilty of manslaughter |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been jailed for life for murdering a student with learning difficulties as his wife has been convicted of her manslaughter. | |
| Steven Beards, 34, had already been convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Whiting, 20, who was drugged, raped and killed in August, Leicester Crown Court heard. | |
| He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 33 years. His wife Julie Beards, 36, who also has learning difficulties, had denied murder and was convicted of manslaughter. | |
| Miss Whiting's body was found wrapped in a shower curtain under a bed in the Beards' home in Walsall. | |
| Steven Beards, whom the judge described as "a sexually motivated violent killer" denied the charges. | |
| More on this story as it unfolds | More on this story as it unfolds |
| Miss Whiting went to stay the night with the Beards on 16 August, which she had done before. She had become friends with Julie Beards through a local adult community centre. | Miss Whiting went to stay the night with the Beards on 16 August, which she had done before. She had become friends with Julie Beards through a local adult community centre. |
| The following day she was reported missing to the police. | The following day she was reported missing to the police. |
| The couple from Bloxwich in Walsall told the student's mother she had left their home safe and well, but the next day police found her body wrapped in a shower curtain under a bed in their house. | The couple from Bloxwich in Walsall told the student's mother she had left their home safe and well, but the next day police found her body wrapped in a shower curtain under a bed in their house. |
| Miss Whiting was raped after her food had been laced with a 'sedating hypnotic drug' Zoplicone, and died of a fractured skull when she had been struck on the head at least three times, the jury heard. | Miss Whiting was raped after her food had been laced with a 'sedating hypnotic drug' Zoplicone, and died of a fractured skull when she had been struck on the head at least three times, the jury heard. |
| Steven Beards, who has also been convicted of rape, told the court he had "no idea" how evidence of his sperm had been found on Miss Whiting. | Steven Beards, who has also been convicted of rape, told the court he had "no idea" how evidence of his sperm had been found on Miss Whiting. |
| He claimed he was planning on being a sperm donor so had kept a sperm sample in his bathroom. | |
| 'Sexually motivated' | |
| Det Supt Mark Payne said: "Susan Whiting was a vulnerable young woman who lost her life at the hands of this pair, who betrayed her trust. | |
| "The two have never given a reason why Susan was killed, but we believe the attack was pre-planned and sexually motivated." | |
| Steven Beards initially told police he had not stayed at the house that night and claimed to return home the following morning. | |
| Julie Beards said she was in the bathroom and accused her husband of being a murderer. | |
| Miss Whiting's mother, Maureen, paid tribute to her daughter saying: "She was just 20 years old, an easy-going, loving young lady, enjoying her life. I know she was loved and will be missed by so many people". | Miss Whiting's mother, Maureen, paid tribute to her daughter saying: "She was just 20 years old, an easy-going, loving young lady, enjoying her life. I know she was loved and will be missed by so many people". |