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Body-in-case husband found guilty | Body-in-case husband found guilty |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A man has been jailed for life for the "cold" murder of his wife, whose body was dumped in a suitcase by a motorway. | A man has been jailed for life for the "cold" murder of his wife, whose body was dumped in a suitcase by a motorway. |
Paul Grabham, 26 denied murdering Kirsty Grabham, 24, in March 2009 at the flat they shared in Swansea. | Paul Grabham, 26 denied murdering Kirsty Grabham, 24, in March 2009 at the flat they shared in Swansea. |
Swansea Crown Court heard he killed her after the couple, who both worked as prostitutes, rowed about his use of so-called "dogging" websites. | Swansea Crown Court heard he killed her after the couple, who both worked as prostitutes, rowed about his use of so-called "dogging" websites. |
Mrs Grabham's body was found near the M4 in Bridgend by a lorry driver after her husband reported her missing. | Mrs Grabham's body was found near the M4 in Bridgend by a lorry driver after her husband reported her missing. |
Grabham denied ever visiting a site close to where his wife's body was found. | Grabham denied ever visiting a site close to where his wife's body was found. |
But he was found guilty by the jury and told by the judge he must serve 19 years, less the 302 days spent on remand. | But he was found guilty by the jury and told by the judge he must serve 19 years, less the 302 days spent on remand. |
Paul Grabham could not explain the blood on his shoes | |
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Butterfield told Grabham that his actions had been "cold and calculated" and without remorse. | Passing sentence, Mr Justice Butterfield told Grabham that his actions had been "cold and calculated" and without remorse. |
"I have watched throughout this trial for the merest flicker of remorse in your eyes and I have seen none," he told him. | "I have watched throughout this trial for the merest flicker of remorse in your eyes and I have seen none," he told him. |
"You have been convicted of murder - just one year after you promised to love and cherish your new bride, you battered and strangled her to death. | "You have been convicted of murder - just one year after you promised to love and cherish your new bride, you battered and strangled her to death. |
"It was a vicious and sustained attack fuelled by drink and drugs that you had taken and it is without doubt that your intention was to kill her. | "It was a vicious and sustained attack fuelled by drink and drugs that you had taken and it is without doubt that your intention was to kill her. |
"But she was not to have, even in death, the decency and dignity to which, undoubtedly, she was entitled. | "But she was not to have, even in death, the decency and dignity to which, undoubtedly, she was entitled. |
"You crammed her bleeding and still warm body into a suitcase like so much rubbish, hoping it would not be found for many years." | "You crammed her bleeding and still warm body into a suitcase like so much rubbish, hoping it would not be found for many years." |
The court heard Grabham met his wife at a massage parlour in Bridgend where she worked as a prostitute. | The court heard Grabham met his wife at a massage parlour in Bridgend where she worked as a prostitute. |
Kirsty Grabham had a stormy and volatile relationship with her husband Friend tells of plea on night of murder Couple's unconventional lifestyle | |
Three months later they married, in February 2008. The court has heard the couple set up a website "offering their services separately or together". | Three months later they married, in February 2008. The court has heard the couple set up a website "offering their services separately or together". |
But the jury heard they had a "stormy and volatile" relationship and, within months, Paul Grabham was using websites used by people looking for casual sex with strangers. | But the jury heard they had a "stormy and volatile" relationship and, within months, Paul Grabham was using websites used by people looking for casual sex with strangers. |
The prosecution claimed the Grabhams had a row during a night out in Swansea on 27 March after they fell out over his suspected use of these websites. | The prosecution claimed the Grabhams had a row during a night out in Swansea on 27 March after they fell out over his suspected use of these websites. |
He had returned home to their flat in the Mount Pleasant area early alone and Mrs Grabham had got back to the flat by taxi much later. | He had returned home to their flat in the Mount Pleasant area early alone and Mrs Grabham had got back to the flat by taxi much later. |
It was after she arrived home that neighbour Byron Williams, 30, said he was kept awake because of a violent hour-long dispute in the Grabham's flat. | It was after she arrived home that neighbour Byron Williams, 30, said he was kept awake because of a violent hour-long dispute in the Grabham's flat. |
He said after the row he heard something being dragged across the floor of the Grabhams' flat above. | He said after the row he heard something being dragged across the floor of the Grabhams' flat above. |
Mrs Grabham's mother, Catherine Broomfield, also told the court that her daughter had confided in her that her husband Paul had grabbed her violently by her throat. | Mrs Grabham's mother, Catherine Broomfield, also told the court that her daughter had confided in her that her husband Paul had grabbed her violently by her throat. |
But Grabham told the jury he was asleep at the time he was alleged to have killed his wife and the last time he had seen his wife was in the early hours of 28 March last year. | But Grabham told the jury he was asleep at the time he was alleged to have killed his wife and the last time he had seen his wife was in the early hours of 28 March last year. |
Both had drunk vodka and taken cocaine, he said, and he had also had an ecstasy tablet. | Both had drunk vodka and taken cocaine, he said, and he had also had an ecstasy tablet. |
Paloma De-Toro-Foley was out clubbing with Kirsty the night she was murdered | |
Over the following days, he said he had noticed money and personal items missing from the house, and reported his wife missing. | Over the following days, he said he had noticed money and personal items missing from the house, and reported his wife missing. |
Within a week her dead body was found by a lorry driver in a suitcase dumped alongside the M4 near Bridgend. | Within a week her dead body was found by a lorry driver in a suitcase dumped alongside the M4 near Bridgend. |
Grabham said he could not explain how his wife's blood was found on his shoes and jeans. | Grabham said he could not explain how his wife's blood was found on his shoes and jeans. |
Forensic scientist Claire Morse told the court there were also smears of her blood on a sofa, in the bedroom and on bathroom taps. | Forensic scientist Claire Morse told the court there were also smears of her blood on a sofa, in the bedroom and on bathroom taps. |
Ms Morse, who examined the flat, said she believed an effort had been made to clean up some of the blood because diluted stains were found in the hall and on a television screen. | Ms Morse, who examined the flat, said she believed an effort had been made to clean up some of the blood because diluted stains were found in the hall and on a television screen. |
Spots of Mrs Grabham's blood on part of the lounge ceiling had also been painted over, the jury heard. | Spots of Mrs Grabham's blood on part of the lounge ceiling had also been painted over, the jury heard. |
The trial had heard the couple both worked as prostitutes and even advertised their services on their own website. | The trial had heard the couple both worked as prostitutes and even advertised their services on their own website. |