After Brenda Venables vanished in 1982, her husband claimed to be mystified. In fact, he knew the grim truth – and how the answer to her sudden disappearance lay close to home…
Justice Tipples told David Venables: “You killed your wife to avoid the complications of divorce proceedings so there were elements of greed and selfishness in your crime.
“Disposing of a body in a septic tank is not an impulsive killing. It takes planning. What you did with her body is disgusting and repulsive. She was recuperating at home with an injured leg and depression.
“You were her husband. You should have protected her, and she should have been able to trust you…”