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| Malcolm Webster: Wife killer jailed for 30 years | Malcolm Webster: Wife killer jailed for 30 years |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A man who murdered his first wife in a car fire and tried to kill his second in another crash has been jailed for at least 30 years. | A man who murdered his first wife in a car fire and tried to kill his second in another crash has been jailed for at least 30 years. |
| Former nurse Malcolm Webster, 52, was found guilty in May of murdering Claire Morris in Aberdeenshire in 1994. | Former nurse Malcolm Webster, 52, was found guilty in May of murdering Claire Morris in Aberdeenshire in 1994. |
| Webster, of Guildford, Surrey, had also denied attempting to kill Felicity Drumm in New Zealand in 1999. | Webster, of Guildford, Surrey, had also denied attempting to kill Felicity Drumm in New Zealand in 1999. |
| He was jailed for life for the crimes, committed as part of a plot to claim almost £1m in life assurance money. | He was jailed for life for the crimes, committed as part of a plot to claim almost £1m in life assurance money. |
| At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Bannatyne said Webster - who must serve 30 years before he can apply for parole - had committed "cold-blooded, brutal and callous" crimes for financial gain. | At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Bannatyne said Webster - who must serve 30 years before he can apply for parole - had committed "cold-blooded, brutal and callous" crimes for financial gain. |
| He said: "The murder of your then wife was an appalling one and all right-minded people will be utterly shocked." | He said: "The murder of your then wife was an appalling one and all right-minded people will be utterly shocked." |
| Ms Morris' family said Webster was a "monster". | Ms Morris' family said Webster was a "monster". |
| Her brother, Peter Morris, said he believed that 30 years was "the correct sentence for an extremely dangerous criminal". | Her brother, Peter Morris, said he believed that 30 years was "the correct sentence for an extremely dangerous criminal". |
| He told BBC Scotland: "It's more important that he's taken from society because of the damage he can cause to women. | He told BBC Scotland: "It's more important that he's taken from society because of the damage he can cause to women. |
| "I would hate for that to happen to anyone else." | "I would hate for that to happen to anyone else." |
| He also announced his intention to set up a foundation in his sister's name, aimed at improving the after-care for people involved in serious court cases. | |
| Mt Morris said he wanted bereaved family members to be treated as important people rather than "second-class citizens". | |
| Webster was found guilty after Scotland's longest-lasting single accused criminal trial, which began on 1 February at the High Court in Glasgow. | Webster was found guilty after Scotland's longest-lasting single accused criminal trial, which began on 1 February at the High Court in Glasgow. |
| The jury, of nine women and six men, took less than four hours to find Webster guilty of all the charges, as part of frauds to obtain hundreds of thousands of pounds in life assurance. | The jury, of nine women and six men, took less than four hours to find Webster guilty of all the charges, as part of frauds to obtain hundreds of thousands of pounds in life assurance. |
| The fatal crash in 1994 was originally treated as an accident. | The fatal crash in 1994 was originally treated as an accident. |
| Webster said he had swerved to avoid a motorcyclist. | Webster said he had swerved to avoid a motorcyclist. |
| However, the crash was later reinvestigated, after concerns were raised in the wake of the second crash, in Auckland. | However, the crash was later reinvestigated, after concerns were raised in the wake of the second crash, in Auckland. |
| New tests showed Ms Morris had traces of drugs in her system. | New tests showed Ms Morris had traces of drugs in her system. |
| Ms Drumm, who also suspected that Webster had also been spiking her food and setting fire to their homes, alerted the authorities in New Zealand after surviving a car crash in which Webster was driving. | Ms Drumm, who also suspected that Webster had also been spiking her food and setting fire to their homes, alerted the authorities in New Zealand after surviving a car crash in which Webster was driving. |
| After the crash she realised he had cheated her of her life savings and was set to gain a huge payout in the event of her death. Webster then returned to the UK. | After the crash she realised he had cheated her of her life savings and was set to gain a huge payout in the event of her death. Webster then returned to the UK. |
| In a chance meeting, Ms Drumm's sister later told a UK police officer of her concerns, and this proved to be pivotal in the case. | In a chance meeting, Ms Drumm's sister later told a UK police officer of her concerns, and this proved to be pivotal in the case. |
| Webster was also found guilty of intending to bigamously marry Simone Banarjee, from Oban, Argyll, to gain access to her estate. | Webster was also found guilty of intending to bigamously marry Simone Banarjee, from Oban, Argyll, to gain access to her estate. |
| He pretended to have leukaemia, and during the deception he shaved his head and eyebrows. | He pretended to have leukaemia, and during the deception he shaved his head and eyebrows. |
| Police warned her about Webster's past as they closed in on him. | Police warned her about Webster's past as they closed in on him. |
| Advocate depute Derek Ogg QC said in his closing speech that Webster was "a most cruel, practised deceiver" who, if convicted, would become one of the most notorious murderers of modern times. | Advocate depute Derek Ogg QC said in his closing speech that Webster was "a most cruel, practised deceiver" who, if convicted, would become one of the most notorious murderers of modern times. |
| However, defence counsel Edgar Prais QC said that although Webster was a "liar", a "thief", a "philanderer" and a "rat bag", he was not a killer. | However, defence counsel Edgar Prais QC said that although Webster was a "liar", a "thief", a "philanderer" and a "rat bag", he was not a killer. |
| The family of Webster's first wife have since asked him to hand over her grave. | The family of Webster's first wife have since asked him to hand over her grave. |
| Child deaths | Child deaths |
| Claire Morris' brother Peter wants to replace her headstone in Aberdeenshire, which still bears her married name and refers to a "dear wife". | Claire Morris' brother Peter wants to replace her headstone in Aberdeenshire, which still bears her married name and refers to a "dear wife". |
| Mr Morris asked Webster, through his solicitor, to hand over the lair - but the request was rejected. | Mr Morris asked Webster, through his solicitor, to hand over the lair - but the request was rejected. |
| Aberdeenshire Council had earlier confirmed that changes to the gravestone, at Tarves, needed the authority of the owner. | Aberdeenshire Council had earlier confirmed that changes to the gravestone, at Tarves, needed the authority of the owner. |
| Meanwhile, police are also investigating concerns over the deaths of three children at a hospital in Abu Dhabi where Webster worked in the 1980s. | Meanwhile, police are also investigating concerns over the deaths of three children at a hospital in Abu Dhabi where Webster worked in the 1980s. |