UK UK - Sarah Wellgreen, 46, Kent, 9 Oct 2018 #2 *B. Lacomba guilty*

[Tortoise]

12:53
Sarah's body is at 'a secret location known only to you'
Judge Kinch said he was satisfied that Lacomba disposed of Sarah’s body at a “secret location only known to you” during the two hour gap where his car was spotted on CCTV during the night of October 9/10.

A 15 mile radius of where Lacomb’s car was last spotted has been meticulously searched to no avail, which the judge suggests means the grave may have been pre-dug.

“Logic strongly dictates that you identified that location some time before,” he said.

“This was certainly no last minute rush to find a hiding place.

“No one knows how you killed Sarah. It must be hoped that she did not suffer too much. You deliberately set you to deprive them [her children] of their mother. It is hard to imagine something more callous or chilling.”


Ben Lacomba sentenced for murdering Sarah Wellgreen - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

I need to go out for a short while - if someone else wants to take over the updates.

 

[deugirtni]

Not quite understanding where she's going with that point - he would get to keep the house, no buy out, surely that's a financial motive ?

Like BL's defence lawyer said, 50% of the equity in the home legally belonged to SW.. so in her death, it would need to be sold, with her 50% going to her estate to be distributed however her Will specified (if she had one, otherwise it would be distributed according to regulations - presumably the monies split between her 5 children either way (the minor children's portions would presumably be held in trust, and possibly could be accessed by whomever got custody and control of the minors, to assist them with raising them). The home would likely immediately have to be sold once the courts specified that she was dead (presumably after a guilty verdict for her murder!).

I think Tortoise's point is valid however, in that I'll bet BL had envisioned that because no body would be found, she would be deemed to be 'missing', rather than dead, and therefore things would be held in limbo, with him being able to remain in the home for at least several years before SW would be deemed deceased. Perhaps that is at least part of the reason why he hid her body so carefully (not to mention that he likely thought there was no way he'd be convicted without a body).

 

[Legally Bland]

I need to go out for a short while - if someone else wants to take over the updates.

I can do it, but I'm running late so will have to stop as soon as the minimum is announced.

 

[Alyce]

I'm here

 

[Legally Bland]

Ronke Phillips
@ronkephillips

Taxi driver, Ben Lacomba sentenced to life and told he will serve at least 27 years for the murder of his former partner, Sarah Wellgreen. The body of the 46 year old mother of 5 has never been found.

 

[Legally Bland]

LBC News
@LBCNews
·
55s

Ben Lacomba has been sentenced to a life sentence of 27 years in prison at Woolwich Crown Court for the murder of mother-of-five Sarah Wellgreen from Kent.

 

[Legally Bland]

Looks like Kent Live started a new article rather than updating the live one.
_____________

Ben Lacomba has been jailed for 27 years after murdering the mother of his children Sarah Wellgreen.

The Dartford taxi driver appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today (November 8) to be sentenced.

Ben Lacomba jailed for 27 years for the murder of Sarah Wellgreen

 

[Alyce]

Thanks Legally, all the papers have articles up but no one was giving the sentence other than saying life !

 

[Alyce]

Lacomba is thought to have drowned Mrs Wellgreen in the bath early on October 10


Ben Lacomba is jailed for life for murdering Sarah Wellgreen | Daily Mail Online

 

[Alyce]

Lacomba may now become one of the first criminals to be subjected to the proposed 'Helen's Law', named after Helen McCourt, whose killer Ian Simms refused to offer reveal the whereabouts of her body in 1988.


Ben Lacomba is jailed for life for murdering Sarah Wellgreen | Daily Mail Online

 

[Alyce]

13:09

Jailed for 27 years

Ben Lacomba has been jailed for 27 years after murdering the mother of his children Sarah Wellgreen.

He will spend at least 26 years behind bars, as 322 days have been deducted from his sentence from time spent on remand in custody.

It means he will serve a further 26 years and 43 days.

Judge Christopher Kinch QC told Lacomba as he sat in the dock: “This was a thoroughly wicked plan that was planned and executed for your own selfish interests without any thought for the dreadful consequences on others.”

He said the concealment of Sarah’s body was “taken seriously into account” when evaluating the “particularly high” seriousness of the crime.

Lacomba’s term was reduced by one year due to his mixed motives rather than financial gain.

Previous good character was deemed the only mitigating factor and the period was reduced by two years because of that.

Sarah’s son Jack Burdett quietly claps after Judge Kinch leaves the courtroom.

Sarah’s family can be seen hugging prosecutor Alison Morgan QC.

 

[Alyce]

So basically it was 30 years, reduced by 3

 

[chimpface]

That's as good an outcome that could have been expected I suppose, fair play to the judge. Hopefully Helens law will apply and he will have to reveal her location if he ever wishes to be released.

 

[Sarahlou]

A fairly decent sentence thankfully. Hopefully he won't get out

 

[Jules77]

Wonder if bl mum blew a kiss at him this time, I’m still in doubt he’ll say where the body is

 

[Tortoise]

13:34
Judge Kinch returns to address counsel
Judge Kinch has returned to the court room to address counsel.

He said Det Sgt Alistair Wharton played “a particularly significant role” in driving the investigation.

He was deputy senior investigating officer “working tirelessly around the clock” on key evidential breakthroughs.

He also commended Det Con Nicola Mitton, who acted as case officer and “worked through weekends to ensure there were no delays in response to requests during the trial”.

She had been “pivotal” in trial preparation.

Judge Kinch says the pair should be “commended for their outstanding work on this case” and noted by the chief constable of Kent Police

He noted the work of Det Chief Inspector Ivan Beasley, who “brought the team together” working as the lead on the police team to “ensure every evidential opportunity was explored and pursued”.

Det Con James Grealish who managed witnesses, Family liaison Det Con Celia King, Det Con Nicola Drury analysing thousands of hours of CCTV footage, Det Sgt Ryan Law conducting searches were also commended for their work.

The police investigation involved “tireless work” and involved many different strands of evidence to form a coherent case and “reflects great credit on every officer involved”

Volunteers who searched for Sarah were also praised by Judge Kinch.

Judge Kinch finally thanks counsel on both sides for their diligence in preparing the case so well to the point that the planned six week trial instead lasted four weeks.
Ben Lacomba sentenced for murdering Sarah Wellgreen - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

So basically it was 30 years, reduced by 3

Yes, apparently the requirement is that the murder was done for gain, not necessarily financial gain.

Para 5 (2) (c) Criminal Justice Act 2003

Interesting in that he will be 65 when the 26 years is up, so if he is in good health he might reveal where he put her body in order to have some remaining life on the outside.

 

[Alyce]

Yes, apparently the requirement is that the murder was done for gain, not necessarily financial gain.

Para 5 (2) (c) Criminal Justice Act 2003

Interesting in that he will be 65 when the 26 years is up, so if he is in good health he might reveal where he put her body in order to have some remaining life on the outside.

Yes, wondering if he will do that. He will have had the satisfaction of keeping the secret for many years but could own up to try and get out. It would be great ( wont happen I know ) if the parole board could say well you kept us waiting 26 years, so we will keep you in for another 26.

 

[chimpface]

He will appeal the length of sentence faw shaw.