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British gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones jailed for US killing | British gambler Marcus Bebb-Jones jailed for US killing |
(about 2 hours 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 Sabrina 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. |
After his wife's disappearance, he went on a gambling spree in Las Vegas, partially funded by her credit cards. | |
Gunshot to head | Gunshot to head |
Sabrina, 31, was reported missing by a hotel employee in September 1997. | Sabrina, 31, was reported missing by a hotel employee in September 1997. |
Bebb-Jones is said to have 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 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. | 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 (£3,800) had been charged to credit cards and a further $7,000 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 Bebb-Jones arrived in Las Vegas his 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. | 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. | |
Skull found | |
For the next six years the case lay dormant, until a rancher found a human skull - later identified as Sabrina's - near Douglas Pass, 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' arrest in the US for murder in the first degree, concealing death and domestic violence. | |
He was arrested at his home in 2009 after a raid by the Metropolitan 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. | 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. |