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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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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, a post-mortem found. | |
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. | He claimed he was planning on being a sperm donor so had kept a sperm sample in his bathroom. |
Susan Whiting placed her trust in two people she thought were her friends. | |
Susan had stayed with the Beards before and her family trusted them - that trust was totally broken, totally abused. | |
Julie accused her husband of extreme violence towards her in the past, and even rape - which he denied. | |
But the police believed she too was to blame for drugging vulnerable Susan and helping to conceal her body. | |
Steven's head was bowing down in the dock as the judge passed a sentence. He will be spending at least 33 years behind bars. | |
'Sexually motivated' | '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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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". |
Julie Beards lived in a specially adapted bungalow run by the charity Brighter Futures which released a statement: "Our thoughts and sympathy go out to the family of Susan Whiting. | |
"This has been a very difficult and distressing time for everybody involved in the case. Brighter Futures has been working hard to support our customers and staff as they deal with what has happened." |