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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. | |
| Julie Beards will be sentenced at a later date. | Julie Beards will be sentenced at a later date. |
| 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 examination 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. |
| Analysis: Peter Wilson - BBC Midlands Special Correspondent | |
| Susan Whiting placed her trust in two people she thought were her friends. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |