By Lucy Caulkett-
A former UKIP councillor has been found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of murdering his wife, after she discovered an affair he had with their son’s partner. The jury took just three-and-a-half hours to find evil Searle guilty of murder, after a heart rendering six-day trial. He is due to be sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday, but the exact number of years he will be given will be decided tomorrow.
Stephen Searle, 64 had denied killing his 62 year wife, whom he had married since she was 17. He had indeed strangled his wife, Anne, at their home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, on 30 December but lied to jurors that his wife had attacked him with a knife after an argument. Her death was the result of an ensuing struggle with her, Searle falsely told jurors. The lying murderer and cheat told the court he did not intend to murder his wife, as he claimed he had failed to call an ambulance after the attack and instead “sat there like a bloody idiot”.
However, a 999 call that was played to jurors, Searle could be heard telling police: “I’ve just killed my wife.”The foolish murderer must have had a memory loss to forget he had admitted his horrid crime to police, and that crimes reported to police always remain on record. The evil former Royal Marine killed his wife after she found out about the affair with Anastasia Pomiateeva. Rather than apologise profusely for his immoral infidelity, he decided to kill his innocent wife for being understandably upset with her husband of so many years.
Days before her death, evil Searle posted a message on Facebook saying: “Happy Christmas… I hope I will still be here in 2018. We will see.” What a sad and wicked human being!
After the verdict, former politician Bill Mountford told BBC Suffolk he still considered Searle “a friend”, adding “these things happen”. Mr Mountford, who was leader of UKIP at Suffolk County Council when Searle was a councillor, said: “I still regard Steve as fundamentally a decent man who has found himself in circumstances beyond his control. “I’m not condoning it in any way but I was very, very sad to hear of Steve’s conviction.
“I’m well aware domestic disputes can get out of hand but I feel equally sorry for both Steve and his now deceased wife.” Mountford can be forgiven for his daft comment since he appears to place loyalty above morality. He expressed sadness at the news of his friend’s conviction, but none at the reality of his wife’s murder in the hands of a selfish cheat and wicked murderer who has ended the life of his partner of over four decades.
INFIDELITY
Judge Mr Justice Green rightly told the convicted murderer that Searle’s “act of infidelity in one way or another led to this”. Searle had previously told a jury his wife had uncovered his affair with Ms Pomiateeva, who is the mother to at least one of their grandchildren, months before she died.
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told horrified jurors that Searle had probably placed his wife in a choke hold he had knowledge of from his military training following “yet another row”. He also told the court that the discovery of the affair “would have put considerable strain on the marriage” following Anne Searle’s discovery of her husband’s affair with Anastasia Pomiateeva- the partner of their son Gary and mother to one of their grandchildren.
A post-mortem examination recorded that Mrs Searle died of compression of the neck.Forensic pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift said she would have lost consciousness after about eight to 15 seconds of pressure to the neck, and death required further sustained pressure for a period of minutes.
Days before her death, Mrs Searle had posted a message on Facebook saying: “Happy Christmas… I hope I will still be here in 2018. We will see.”
A victim impact statement from one one of Searle’s sons, Stephen, read: “Not only have I lost my mum, but because of what he’s done I’ve lost my dad too.”
Det Ch Supt Eamonn Bridger said: “Anne Searle’s death was a tragic crime and our sympathies remain with her family and friends.”
Pic Credits: Sky.news.com