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British gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones jailed for US killing British gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones jailed for US killing
(about 1 hour later)
A British professional poker player has been jailed for 20 years in the US for killing his wife.A British professional poker player has been jailed for 20 years in the US for killing his wife.
Marcus Bebb-Jones, 49, was arrested at his home in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in 2009 and extradited to Colorado two years later.Marcus Bebb-Jones, 49, was arrested at his home in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in 2009 and extradited to Colorado two years later.
He admitted second-degree murder, telling police he killed his wife Sabina in a "heat of passion".He admitted second-degree murder, telling police he killed his wife Sabina in a "heat of passion".
The couple ran a hotel in the state when she disappeared in 1997. Her skull was found in 2004 in a national park.The couple ran a hotel in the state when she disappeared in 1997. Her skull was found in 2004 in a national park.
In recent years Bebb-Jones had been known for a stint on the online and casino poker circuit, winning thousands of pounds in prize money.In recent years Bebb-Jones had been known for a stint on the online and casino poker circuit, winning thousands of pounds in prize money.
Following his wife's disappearance, he went on a Las Vegas "playboy weekend", partially funded by her credit cards. Following his wife's disappearance, he went on a gambling spree in Las Vegas, partially funded by her credit cards.
He then shot himself in the head in a failed suicide attempt. Bebb-Jones moved back to the UK with his son in 1998, after selling the hotel. Gunshot to head
He was arrested at his home in 2009 following a police raid, and lost his appeal against extradition to the US in 2011. Sabrina, 31, was reported missing by a hotel employee in September 1997.
District Attorney Sherry Caloia said Bebb-Jones had made a plea bargain, admitting murder in the second degree in exchange for a sentence of no more than 20 years. Bebb-Jones is said to given different accounts about what happened but in each he claimed his wife had left him after an argument while they were on a day trip.
He was jailed at Garfield County Court and his sentence will be reduced by the time he has already served awaiting the trial. He took his son to Las Vegas in the days after his wife's disappearance, telling colleagues he was going to look for her in the city where her family live.
But detectives said nearly $5,700 (£3,825) had been charged to credit cards and a further $7,000 (£4,697) was refused. The spree is said to have included cash advances at casinos, hotel rooms and car rental.
According to court documents, four days after he arrived in Las Vegas, Bebb-Jones' toddler son was found alone in a hotel room and taken into state care.
The next day a maid found Bebb-Jones in another hotel room, with a "self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head", according to details of the court documents reported in the local newspaper, the Daily Sentinel, in 2010.
Having refused to speak to US police, Bebb-Jones moved back to the UK with his son in 1998, after selling the hotel.
For the next six years the case lay dormant, until a rancher found a human skull - later identified as Sabrina's - near Douglas Pass, which is between Dinosaur National Monument and Grand Junction in Colorado.
Near the skull detectives found purple thistle flowers, which had also been discovered on the undercarriage of the couple's van in 1997, a court document stated.
Some 12 years after Sabrina's disappearance, a warrant was issued for Bebb-Jones's arrest in the US for murder in the first degree, concealing death and domestic violence.
He was arrested at his home in 2009 following a raid by the Met police acting on behalf of the US authorities and extradited after losing his appeal in 2011.
On Wednesday, District Attorney Sherry Caloia said Bebb-Jones had made a plea bargain, admitting murder in the second degree in exchange for a sentence of no more than 20 years.
He was jailed at Garfield County Court and his sentence will be reduced to reflect the time he has has already served awaiting the trial.