Evil brute is GUILTY of murdering his ex-wife mum-of-four found ‘mutilated’ under a pile of clothes
A MAN has been found guilty of murdering his ex, a mum-of-four, after her mutilated body was found under a pile of clothes.
Russell Marsh, of Shotton, Flintshire, killed former wife Jade Marsh, also known as Jade Ward, when she began "moving on" with her life following their split.
The victim, 27, was found dead last summer after being slashed, stabbed and strangled in her own bed.
Her body was then buried under a pile of clothes.
Marsh had denied a charge of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.
But jurors today found him guilty after just two hours of deliberations, reports.
Read more on crime and courts
The 29-year-old night shift worker told his bosses on the night Ms Ward died that he needed to leave work early because his brother had attempted suicide.
But after leaving his job at Bio Energy in Ellesmere Port, he was instead tracked by CCTV, ANPR cameras, and phone masts heading to his former family home in North Wales.
There, he murdered his ex partner. He then told the police he had "done something horrible" and said they would find the Co-op worker dead in her bed.
Police forced their way in and discovered the bedroom door had been secured with a dressing gown cord.
HORROR ATTACK
Ms Ward was found dead in her pyjamas buried under a pile of clothing.
A pathology report found she had suffered multiple wounds “across her body” - including her face and arms - and she had grip mark bruises.
There was also evidence of "defensive” wounds sustained around the hands showing she had “made efforts to fight off” her attacker.
During his trial, Marsh claimed he believed Ms Ward was "trying to drive him to suicide" in order to claim a £1m life insurance pay-out.
He will be sentenced to life in prison on April 12.
'BRUTAL AND REMARKABLY CRUEL'
Ms Ward was described as a "lovely, bubbly and popular girl" in tributes after her death on August 26 last year.
She and Marsh had separated on three occasions, but split "for good" in the summer of 2021, the court had heard.
It's understood "controlling" Marsh had heard Ms Ward shared a kiss with another man at a party before the murder.
Following today's guilty verdict, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "She lost her life at your hands in what was a brutal and remarkably cruel attack after ending a relationship. I shudder to think.
"Her young children were just yards away when you did what you did.
Most read in The Sun
"I watched you throughout this trial and you haven't shown the slightest bit of remorse.
"There can only be one sentence for murder and that is of life imprisonment."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
He commended the friends and family for their "remarkable" restraint after listening to "falsehoods and slurs" aimed at Ms Ward and her family. "It can't have been easy for them", said the judge.
Members of Ms Ward's family leaned over the public gallery and thanked the jury as they left the court.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
