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| Wife convicted of Gambia murder | Wife convicted of Gambia murder |
| (4 days later) | |
| A 28-year-old Nigerian woman has been found guilty of murdering her 76-year-old husband by a court in The Gambia. | A 28-year-old Nigerian woman has been found guilty of murdering her 76-year-old husband by a court in The Gambia. |
| The body of William West, of Hastings, East Sussex, was found near his holiday home in the country in July 2006 after he was reported missing by his wife. | The body of William West, of Hastings, East Sussex, was found near his holiday home in the country in July 2006 after he was reported missing by his wife. |
| His charred remains were found hidden in a sack, Banjul High Court heard. | His charred remains were found hidden in a sack, Banjul High Court heard. |
| Kate West, who had claimed the retired businessman had disappeared in Senegal, was given a life term and told she would be spared the death penalty. | Kate West, who had claimed the retired businessman had disappeared in Senegal, was given a life term and told she would be spared the death penalty. |
| Gambian Police Force spokesman Sulayman Secka said she would be transferred to the state Central Prison in Banjul for the killing of Dublin-born Mr West, who lived in St Helen's Park Road, Hastings, East Sussex. | Gambian Police Force spokesman Sulayman Secka said she would be transferred to the state Central Prison in Banjul for the killing of Dublin-born Mr West, who lived in St Helen's Park Road, Hastings, East Sussex. |
| Remote home | Remote home |
| West had admitted his murder at previous court hearings in The Gambia, but later denied the charge. | West had admitted his murder at previous court hearings in The Gambia, but later denied the charge. |
| The couple had been staying at their remote holiday home in the West African country at the time of his death. | The couple had been staying at their remote holiday home in the West African country at the time of his death. |
| AT THE SCENE Bryony Mansfield, BBC News, Banjul High Court | |
| As Justice Joseph Wowo passed down the guilty verdict, Kate Atori West was expressionless, as she had been throughout the hearing. | As Justice Joseph Wowo passed down the guilty verdict, Kate Atori West was expressionless, as she had been throughout the hearing. |
| However just minutes later, as he read out a sentence of life imprisonment, she raised her hand to her face and sobbed, then raised her hands in the air and collapsed on the steps of the dock. | However just minutes later, as he read out a sentence of life imprisonment, she raised her hand to her face and sobbed, then raised her hands in the air and collapsed on the steps of the dock. |
| She had to be helped to her feet by two female prison guards. | She had to be helped to her feet by two female prison guards. |
| As we filmed her leaving court she shouted: "I am going to smash that camera; don't film me, don't film me." | As we filmed her leaving court she shouted: "I am going to smash that camera; don't film me, don't film me." |
| One of the eight guards escorting her said: "Kate, behave", and they led her away. | One of the eight guards escorting her said: "Kate, behave", and they led her away. |
| West, who was a mature student, had claimed he went missing during a daytrip to Senegal on 3 July, 2006. | West, who was a mature student, had claimed he went missing during a daytrip to Senegal on 3 July, 2006. |
| She said he simply vanished while she waited outside a convenience store while he bought cigars, so she returned firstly to their Gambian home and then to the UK to look for him. | She said he simply vanished while she waited outside a convenience store while he bought cigars, so she returned firstly to their Gambian home and then to the UK to look for him. |
| Mr West was registered as missing when his wife returned to The Gambia and the authorities later alerted Sussex Police. | Mr West was registered as missing when his wife returned to The Gambia and the authorities later alerted Sussex Police. |
| West initially told police that five Nigerian men had taken the 76-year-old from their luxury property in Sanyang and killed him. | West initially told police that five Nigerian men had taken the 76-year-old from their luxury property in Sanyang and killed him. |
| Officers from Sussex Police travelled to The Gambia to help the investigation. | Officers from Sussex Police travelled to The Gambia to help the investigation. |
| An inquest into Mr West's death in Hastings in May 2007 heard his wife later confessed to murdering him with a wooden pestle before setting his body alight. | An inquest into Mr West's death in Hastings in May 2007 heard his wife later confessed to murdering him with a wooden pestle before setting his body alight. |
| The coroner recorded an unlawful killing verdict. | The coroner recorded an unlawful killing verdict. |
| Police 'diligence' | Police 'diligence' |
| A statement from EMD Law, the solicitors representing Mr West's brother Albert, said: "This has been a protracted and traumatic time for Mr West's family. | A statement from EMD Law, the solicitors representing Mr West's brother Albert, said: "This has been a protracted and traumatic time for Mr West's family. |
| "They are pleased that justice has now been done and that Kate West has been brought to account for her crime. | "They are pleased that justice has now been done and that Kate West has been brought to account for her crime. |
| "The family of Mr West have asked me to thank Sussex Police for their skill and diligence in bringing this matter to the attention of the Gambian authorities. | "The family of Mr West have asked me to thank Sussex Police for their skill and diligence in bringing this matter to the attention of the Gambian authorities. |
| "The family hope that they will now be able to move on with their lives." | "The family hope that they will now be able to move on with their lives." |
| Defence counsel Lamin Camara said West planned to appeal against the conviction. | Defence counsel Lamin Camara said West planned to appeal against the conviction. |
| Mr Camara said he would prepare case papers to be sent to the Court of Appeal in Banjul over the next couple of weeks. | Mr Camara said he would prepare case papers to be sent to the Court of Appeal in Banjul over the next couple of weeks. |
| "She is gutted about being sent to prison for life," he said. | "She is gutted about being sent to prison for life," he said. |
| "She cried very much. She pleaded not guilty to the charge on the grounds that she firmly believed she did not kill Mr West. | "She cried very much. She pleaded not guilty to the charge on the grounds that she firmly believed she did not kill Mr West. |
| "She did confess to the crime originally but we challenged that confession on the grounds that it wasn't obtained voluntarily." | "She did confess to the crime originally but we challenged that confession on the grounds that it wasn't obtained voluntarily." |
| Life sentence for Gambia murder | Life sentence for Gambia murder |