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Alan Easton murder: Widow convicted of killing fiance | Alan Easton murder: Widow convicted of killing fiance |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A widow and her son's friend have been found guilty of killing her new fiance after realising he had "blown" £40,000 he inherited from his father. | A widow and her son's friend have been found guilty of killing her new fiance after realising he had "blown" £40,000 he inherited from his father. |
Angela Dowling, 48, and Matthew Duffy, 23, from South Yorkshire, murdered Alan Easton weeks after Dowling's husband died and the engagement was announced. | Angela Dowling, 48, and Matthew Duffy, 23, from South Yorkshire, murdered Alan Easton weeks after Dowling's husband died and the engagement was announced. |
Mr Easton was beaten, stabbed and buried on farmland in Everton, Nottinghamshire, on 2 February 2013. | Mr Easton was beaten, stabbed and buried on farmland in Everton, Nottinghamshire, on 2 February 2013. |
Dowling's lodger and long-term lover Stephen Schofield, 33, admitted murder. | Dowling's lodger and long-term lover Stephen Schofield, 33, admitted murder. |
They will all be sentenced on 2 May. | They will all be sentenced on 2 May. |
A fourth man, Mark Bingham, 50, from Sheffield, was found not guilty. | A fourth man, Mark Bingham, 50, from Sheffield, was found not guilty. |
False claims about daughter | False claims about daughter |
Schofield, who had an affair with Dowling over five years, had been a lodger at the Dowling family home in Windmill Avenue in Conisborough, South Yorkshire. | Schofield, who had an affair with Dowling over five years, had been a lodger at the Dowling family home in Windmill Avenue in Conisborough, South Yorkshire. |
During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court the jury heard Dowling had attended her husband's funeral on 15 January, following his death from cancer. | During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court the jury heard Dowling had attended her husband's funeral on 15 January, following his death from cancer. |
A week later she announced her engagement to family friend Mr Easton, from Dunbartonshire, Scotland, and he moved in. | A week later she announced her engagement to family friend Mr Easton, from Dunbartonshire, Scotland, and he moved in. |
Ian Unsworth, prosecuting, said Mr Easton had inherited £40,000 from his father but had "blown it" quickly. | Ian Unsworth, prosecuting, said Mr Easton had inherited £40,000 from his father but had "blown it" quickly. |
He said the relationship with Dowling turned sour days later when she realised he no longer had the money. | He said the relationship with Dowling turned sour days later when she realised he no longer had the money. |
She then falsely alleged to Schofield and Duffy, her son's friend, that her fiance had acted inappropriately towards her teenage daughter and asked for their help to plan his death. | She then falsely alleged to Schofield and Duffy, her son's friend, that her fiance had acted inappropriately towards her teenage daughter and asked for their help to plan his death. |
On the night of the attack, 1 February, the group claimed they were taking Mr Easton out for a meal to celebrate the engagement. | On the night of the attack, 1 February, the group claimed they were taking Mr Easton out for a meal to celebrate the engagement. |
'Ugly twist' | 'Ugly twist' |
Dowling drove them to a country lane in Nottinghamshire and waited in the car as Duffy and Schofield beat Mr Easton, stabbed him nine times, cut his throat and buried him in a shallow grave. | |
The next day Dowling claimed Mr Easton had returned to Scotland following an argument and told her family he "wouldn't be coming back". | The next day Dowling claimed Mr Easton had returned to Scotland following an argument and told her family he "wouldn't be coming back". |
She then traded in her £70 engagement ring and some of Mr Easton's possessions for £100. | She then traded in her £70 engagement ring and some of Mr Easton's possessions for £100. |
During the defence, lawyers said Dowling had appeared "really happy" about her new engagement and could have had no motive to kill him. | During the defence, lawyers said Dowling had appeared "really happy" about her new engagement and could have had no motive to kill him. |
They said Duffy, of Sussex Street, Doncaster, also had no motive as he had only met Mr Easton days before his death. | They said Duffy, of Sussex Street, Doncaster, also had no motive as he had only met Mr Easton days before his death. |
The jury of eight men and four women returned a majority guilty verdict after three days of deliberation. | The jury of eight men and four women returned a majority guilty verdict after three days of deliberation. |
Det Insp Leigh Sanders, from Nottinghamshire Police, said Mr Easton had moved to South Yorkshire to start a new chapter in his life when it took "an ugly twist" and ended in an "extremely violent murder". | Det Insp Leigh Sanders, from Nottinghamshire Police, said Mr Easton had moved to South Yorkshire to start a new chapter in his life when it took "an ugly twist" and ended in an "extremely violent murder". |
He added: "Under the instruction of Dowling, who had significantly tarnished Mr Easton's reputation, Schofield acted as a jealous lover and along with Duffy subjected him to a brutal attack. | He added: "Under the instruction of Dowling, who had significantly tarnished Mr Easton's reputation, Schofield acted as a jealous lover and along with Duffy subjected him to a brutal attack. |
"Their actions were reprehensible, whatever their motives." | "Their actions were reprehensible, whatever their motives." |
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