'Morse' murder plot man jailed

Conetta met his lover at a nursing home

A man has been jailed for his part in a murder plot, which police said could have come from an episode of Inspector Morse.

Enrico Battaglia, 56, from Sutton, Surrey, had fallen in love with Sonia Cornwell and wanted her husband, John, killed because he was "in the way", and Old Bailey jury was told.

So he contacted his relative Roger Conetta, 56, to find a hitman, said Michael Worsley QC, prosecuting.

Part-time musician Conetta recruited a local villain who took several thousand pounds, but had no intention of carrying out the contract killing, said Mr Worsley.

It is an extraordinary story - you were deliberately planning to murder a man who was said to be in the way

Judge Brian Barker

The would-be hitman contacted police after the men changed their minds.

He feared there was still a chance Mr Cornwell might be killed by someone else they may have approached.

Conetta pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kill Mr Cornwell of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, and was jailed for five years.

Conetta had made a full statement to police.

Battaglia had since pleaded guilty to inciting murder. He is to be sentenced at a later date.

Family man

Amanda Tedore, defending, said it was not clear why Conetta, a family man who had not been in trouble for 22 years, had agreed to go along with the scheme.

But police, who had been baffled by the motive for wanting Mr Cornwell dead and who had described it as "the worst Inspector Morse mystery", were grateful that he filled in the gaps.

Judge Brian Barker told Conetta: "It is an extraordinary story. You were deliberately planning to murder a man who was said to be in the way."

The court was told that Battaglia met Mrs Cromwell, an assistant matron, at the nursing home where his wife was being treated for senile dementia.