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Wife and daughter guilty of murdering missing Don Banfield | Wife and daughter guilty of murdering missing Don Banfield |
(40 minutes later) | |
The wife and daughter of a man who vanished more than 10 years ago have been found guilty of his murder. | |
Don Banfield, 63, was last seen leaving the family home in Wealdstone, north-west London, in May 2001. | Don Banfield, 63, was last seen leaving the family home in Wealdstone, north-west London, in May 2001. |
Shirley Banfield, 64, and her daughter Lynette Banfield, 40, of Ashford Road, Canterbury, Kent, were convicted of his murder at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. | Shirley Banfield, 64, and her daughter Lynette Banfield, 40, of Ashford Road, Canterbury, Kent, were convicted of his murder at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. |
They had denied murder, but pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, forgery and conspiracy to pervert justice. | They had denied murder, but pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, forgery and conspiracy to pervert justice. |
The court was told Mr Banfield was murdered by his wife and daughter after he signed a contract to sell the family home, which resulted in a £120,000 profit. | The court was told Mr Banfield was murdered by his wife and daughter after he signed a contract to sell the family home, which resulted in a £120,000 profit. |
'Starting new life' | 'Starting new life' |
Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said: "When he signed the contract for the sale, he was unwittingly signing his own death warrant." | Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said: "When he signed the contract for the sale, he was unwittingly signing his own death warrant." |
Mr Banfield disappeared shortly after he retired from running the Hampstead branch of William Hill bookmakers. | Mr Banfield disappeared shortly after he retired from running the Hampstead branch of William Hill bookmakers. |
His son, Kevin Banfield, who works as an occupational therapist in Brighton, told the jury his father had spoken of starting a new life. | His son, Kevin Banfield, who works as an occupational therapist in Brighton, told the jury his father had spoken of starting a new life. |
The 63-year-old's disappearance was treated as a missing person case until 2009 when his former employers became suspicious and the police investigation was reopened. | |
His wife and daughter had told officers Mr Banfield would often disappear when he had money and he was a womaniser and gambler. | |
Shirley Banfield claimed he had done a "Reggie Perrin" and faked his own death. | |
She also misled the police about her husband's appearance, saying his dark hair had been dyed in a photograph and was now grey. | |
The women claimed to have seen Mr Banfield in December 2008, but later admitted they had lied because they were fraudulently claims his pensions. |