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| Gardener jailed for woods murder | Gardener jailed for woods murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A gardener has been jailed for life for murdering his lover in woods after he found out she was seeing another man. | A gardener has been jailed for life for murdering his lover in woods after he found out she was seeing another man. |
| The body of Linda Casey, 54, of Coulsdon, south London, was discovered in Banstead Woods, Surrey on 13 August. | The body of Linda Casey, 54, of Coulsdon, south London, was discovered in Banstead Woods, Surrey on 13 August. |
| Peter Ling, 50, from Wallington, south London, had admitted killing her with a lump of chalk but denied her murder. | Peter Ling, 50, from Wallington, south London, had admitted killing her with a lump of chalk but denied her murder. |
| Old Bailey Judge Giles Forrester told Ling he would have to serve a minimum of 18 years in jail, saying: "You were jealous, jealous beyond measure." | Old Bailey Judge Giles Forrester told Ling he would have to serve a minimum of 18 years in jail, saying: "You were jealous, jealous beyond measure." |
| The court heard Ling attacked and killed Ms Casey, who was a horticultural lecturer, with a lump of chalk after he found out she had been seeing another man. | The court heard Ling attacked and killed Ms Casey, who was a horticultural lecturer, with a lump of chalk after he found out she had been seeing another man. |
| It is clear that Mrs Casey kept her two lovers in ignorance of each other. It is also clear that she strongly preferred Mr Tolfrey to the defendant John Coffey QC | It is clear that Mrs Casey kept her two lovers in ignorance of each other. It is also clear that she strongly preferred Mr Tolfrey to the defendant John Coffey QC |
| Jurors were told that Ling met Ms Casey, who had been having an affair with married Ian Tolfrey since 2002, in 2007 at her evening classes at Sutton College, south London. | Jurors were told that Ling met Ms Casey, who had been having an affair with married Ian Tolfrey since 2002, in 2007 at her evening classes at Sutton College, south London. |
| Ms Casey was estranged from her second husband and ran her life and lovers on a "relatively strict schedule", the court heard. | Ms Casey was estranged from her second husband and ran her life and lovers on a "relatively strict schedule", the court heard. |
| John Coffey QC, prosecuting, said: "Her romantic life was less than straightforward. She was conducting affairs with two men at the same time. | John Coffey QC, prosecuting, said: "Her romantic life was less than straightforward. She was conducting affairs with two men at the same time. |
| "It is clear that Mrs Casey kept her two lovers in ignorance of each other. It is also clear that she strongly preferred Mr Tolfrey to the defendant." | "It is clear that Mrs Casey kept her two lovers in ignorance of each other. It is also clear that she strongly preferred Mr Tolfrey to the defendant." |
| Ling told the court he had been provoked by Ms Casey, after she teased him about his sexual inadequacy, and should have been facing a manslaughter charge. | Ling told the court he had been provoked by Ms Casey, after she teased him about his sexual inadequacy, and should have been facing a manslaughter charge. |
| 'Something snapped' | 'Something snapped' |
| Peter Ling was described by the judge as being "jealous beyond measure" | |
| During the trial Ling said he was in love with Ms Casey and killing her was the "last thing" he wanted. | During the trial Ling said he was in love with Ms Casey and killing her was the "last thing" he wanted. |
| He said he met her in Banstead Woods to "have it out" with her over the future of their two-and-a-half year affair and just "lost it". | He said he met her in Banstead Woods to "have it out" with her over the future of their two-and-a-half year affair and just "lost it". |
| The court heard Ling, who is married, had seen references in her e-mail account to a relationship with another man and dating sites. | The court heard Ling, who is married, had seen references in her e-mail account to a relationship with another man and dating sites. |
| He said: "I was like a pressure cooker waiting to go off and when she said that comment it went off in my mind." | He said: "I was like a pressure cooker waiting to go off and when she said that comment it went off in my mind." |
| Mr Coffey, defending, said: "Something inside him snapped and he went crazy. He picked up whatever was lying around and hit her with it. " | Mr Coffey, defending, said: "Something inside him snapped and he went crazy. He picked up whatever was lying around and hit her with it. " |
| Ms Casey's naked and partly decomposed body was found on 13 August by police tracker dogs, five days after she was reported missing attacked. | Ms Casey's naked and partly decomposed body was found on 13 August by police tracker dogs, five days after she was reported missing attacked. |