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| Iain Lawrence jailed for murdering wife Sally Lawrence | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former pilot has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife by crashing his car into a tree after the passenger airbag had been disabled. | A former pilot has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife by crashing his car into a tree after the passenger airbag had been disabled. |
| The trial at Leicester Crown Court heard that Iain Lawrence, 53, had argued with Sally Lawrence about finances in their upcoming divorce. | The trial at Leicester Crown Court heard that Iain Lawrence, 53, had argued with Sally Lawrence about finances in their upcoming divorce. |
| Lawrence, of Ratcliffe Road, Leicester, claimed he suffered a spasm in his leg during the crash. | Lawrence, of Ratcliffe Road, Leicester, claimed he suffered a spasm in his leg during the crash. |
| He was given a life sentence and told he will serve a minimum of 24 years. | |
| Judge Justice Leggatt told Lawrence he had committed a "vile crime" and had robbed his young son of a mother. | |
| Lawrence crashed his Peugeot 406 car in Gartree Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, on 6 October. | Lawrence crashed his Peugeot 406 car in Gartree Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, on 6 October. |
| 'Full blown spasm' | |
| PC Tim O'Donnell said he found the crashed car still in fifth gear with the speedometer stuck at 52 mph (84km/h). | PC Tim O'Donnell said he found the crashed car still in fifth gear with the speedometer stuck at 52 mph (84km/h). |
| The trial heard Mrs Lawrence, 47, was killed almost immediately because her airbag did not work, but her husband's did. | |
| Retired firefighter Peter Hawkins, who was one of the first people to arrive at the crash scene, told jurors that Lawrence looked like he was squeezing his eyes shut, pretending to be unconscious. | |
| During the trial he said his leg went into "full blown" spasm at the time of the crash, sending an "excruciating" pain down to his toes. |