A domestic abuser who murdered her “frail” husband and buried him in the garden has been jailed for life.
Maureen Rickards caused her husband “unimaginable pain and suffering”, said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
She was found guilty last month and today got a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years.
Jeremy Rickards, 65, was found wrapped in bin bags inside a hold-all at the couple’s property in St Martin’s Road, Canterbury, on 11 July last year.
He had five stab wounds to his chest – two of which pierced his heart.
There were also non-fatal injuries sustained about 10 days before his death, as well as wounds thought to have been weeks old.
Grass cuttings were put over the body in an attempt to hide it, but the judge said police were alerted by an “overpowering odour” that “made them feel ill”.
Kent Police believe he was killed a month earlier and his corpse stored in an attic room cupboard before being moved.
Rickards, 50, told their daughter he had gone to Saudi Arabia for work, but police had no record of him leaving the UK.
The daughter became concerned by the style of messages she received and asked her mother if she’d taken over his phone.
She eventually reported him missing.
The last record of Mr Rickards being alive was when he topped up his phone on 8 June.
CCTV showed his wife of 27 years using his bank card a few weeks later, with the judge saying the cleaning products she bought were probably to clean up the killing.
‘Bruised victim said he’d been in crash’
Rickards was initially arrested for fraud – but officers searched the property and found the body.
The murder weapon has never been found.
Police said the victim was also seen with bruising on his face a few weeks before his death, telling a pub staff member he had been in a car accident.
But video found on his wife’s phone showed her shouting at him and the sounds of her beating him.
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Mr Rickards briefly moved out of home in early June and was seen with numerous injuries at the property he stayed in.
His wife did not attend sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court, but judge Mr Justice Kerr directed his comments towards her.
“Your videos also clearly show you threatening Jeremy, abusing him, using violence on him, and expressing an intention to kill him,” he said.
“He was in frail health and largely defenceless against you.”
Detectives said Rickards has never expressed remorse for the killing and tried to blame others.
“This was a horrific murder of a man who we believe had been a supportive husband to his wife, despite her violence towards him,” said Detective Inspector Colin McKeen.
