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Glynis Solmaz murder: Alexandros Wetherill jailed for life | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been jailed for life with a minimum 25 years for the murder of a Wrexham woman during a burglary. | A man has been jailed for life with a minimum 25 years for the murder of a Wrexham woman during a burglary. |
Alexandros Wetherill, 24, of Wrexham, was convicted of killing Glynis Solmaz, 65, by a majority verdict after a retrial at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, and sentenced on Friday. | Alexandros Wetherill, 24, of Wrexham, was convicted of killing Glynis Solmaz, 65, by a majority verdict after a retrial at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, and sentenced on Friday. |
Three other men were also jailed after they pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle Ms Solmaz's home. | Three other men were also jailed after they pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle Ms Solmaz's home. |
Ms Solmaz's family called her death "unbearable". | |
Wetherill had admitted manslaughter but denied murder. | Wetherill had admitted manslaughter but denied murder. |
Another man, Christopher Curran, 34, was cleared of murder during the trial last month but that jury could not agree in Wetherill's case. | Another man, Christopher Curran, 34, was cleared of murder during the trial last month but that jury could not agree in Wetherill's case. |
Both Wetherill and Curran, along with Ms Solmaz's former son-in-law Christopher Natt, 52, and David Lovell, 29 - both of Wrexham - pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle her home. | Both Wetherill and Curran, along with Ms Solmaz's former son-in-law Christopher Natt, 52, and David Lovell, 29 - both of Wrexham - pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle her home. |
Curran received four years, Lovell received 32 months and Natt received three years. | Curran received four years, Lovell received 32 months and Natt received three years. |
Mr Justice Royce told Wetherill "you showed her no pity that night". | Mr Justice Royce told Wetherill "you showed her no pity that night". |
He described Natt, Mrs Solmaz's fomer son-in-law, as "despicable". | He described Natt, Mrs Solmaz's fomer son-in-law, as "despicable". |
In a statement read outside Mold Crown Court after sentencing on Friday, the family of Ms Solmaz said: "Our beautiful mum loved life, adored her family and liked and loved by many." | |
The statement, read by Det Insp Mark Hughes, who led the murder investigation, went on to say: "She has been taken too soon and our lives quite simply will never be the same. | |
"The sheer loss along with the dreadful circumstances are simply unbearable. | |
"We can only hope we can now find some peace and closure." | |
Mr Hughes said that the police could only imagine what the family had been through for the last nine months. | |
"I hope this now gives them closure and allows them to move forward," he said. | |
The court was told that Ms Solmaz, who was choked to death, put up a fight when Wetherill burgled her home on the Caia Park Estate in February believing she had £40,000 in cash in a bedroom safe. | The court was told that Ms Solmaz, who was choked to death, put up a fight when Wetherill burgled her home on the Caia Park Estate in February believing she had £40,000 in cash in a bedroom safe. |
A post mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf revealed her injuries were consistent with "significant and prolonged" pressure to the neck. | A post mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf revealed her injuries were consistent with "significant and prolonged" pressure to the neck. |
The prosecution said that had been done by Wetherill to subdue her, while Curran tried to remove the safe. | The prosecution said that had been done by Wetherill to subdue her, while Curran tried to remove the safe. |
That was eventually done by Wetherill, but he had to get a lift from the burglary scene by Lovell, because Curran had left the scene in his vehicle. | That was eventually done by Wetherill, but he had to get a lift from the burglary scene by Lovell, because Curran had left the scene in his vehicle. |
The court heard there was about £10,000 and some jewellery in the safe. | The court heard there was about £10,000 and some jewellery in the safe. |
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