Family of woman murdered by her cheating pig farmer husband launch legal battle to win back her fortune from him
THE family of a woman murdered by her cheating pig farmer husband are battling to win back her fortune from him.
David Venables, 90, slaughtered Brenda in 1982 and hid her body in a cesspit at the couple's farmhouse in Kempsey, Worcestershire.
The 48-year-old's remains were discovered 37 years later, with her husband jailed for life for murder last year.
Brenda's family have now launched a legal bid to claw back her fortune from Venables and be awarded compensation.
After her disappearance, the killer inherited her estate, which is believed to be made up of a share of their farm and a lucrative stake in the family business.
Brenda's nephew Timothy Sheppy, 58, is leading the legal battle against Venables alongside other family members at the High Court.
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Their lawyer said: "Mr Sheppy wants to administer his aunt's estate, and this would include seeking damages for the murder, and recovering such assets and interests the defendant inherited.
"The claimants seek in addition aggravated and exemplary damages given the manner of her death.
"It is unknown whether the death was instant or whether Brenda suffered or was even still alive when her body was confined to the cesspit by the defendant."
Appearing via video link from prison, the killer argued he is hoping to appeal his murder conviction, which would make the case pointless if he is successful.
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But Master Richard Davison said Venables has given no details of the appeal as he agreed there was a "clear case" for removing him as his wife's "personal representative" given the grim circumstances.
He said another court would have to deal with that issue but granted a summary judgment in favour of the family's claim for aggravated damages due to the brutal nature of the murder.
The case will return to court for an assessment of damages for the attack and for the application to remove Venables as personal representative of the estate.
Venables, known locally as "Dirty David" because he slept with so many mistresses, was having a "long-standing affair" with his mum's former carer Lorraine Styles behind wife Brenda's back.
Jurors heard how Venables "wanted Brenda out of the way"; so he could continue the affair.
After murdering his wife, he found the "perfect hiding place" in the secluded septic tank.
He dumped Brenda's body then called police on May 4, 1982, and reported her missing.
Venables played the part of worried husband to the best of his abilities - claiming he woke up to find Brenda gone.
He also lied to officers about Brenda being depressed, which led locals to believe she had taken her own life.
For 37 years she lay undiscovered in the cesspit as her disappearance was treated as a missing person's enquiry.
But his evil web of lies unravelled in 2019 when Brenda's skull and other bones were discovered during work to empty the underground chamber after he sold the house.
Bizarrely, after he was arrested, Venables tried blaming Fred West for his wife's killing - claiming the serial killer had links to Kempsey and had worked emptying septic tanks.
In a statement after Venables' conviction last year, Brenda's nieces and nephews said the murder of their "gentle" aunt would haunt them forever.
They added: "We feel utter horror and despair that Brenda was murdered.
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"She was no harm to anyone, being a gentle and increasingly quiet woman.
"We'll never know how she died or how much she suffered. We pray her death was quick."
