Wife gets life for murder

Lesley Gault at an earlier court appearance in Belfast

A woman who helped her lover murder her husband must serve at least 15 years in jail, a judge has ruled.

Mother of triplets Lesley Gault sobbed in the dock as she was given a life sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Lord Justice Campbell acknowledged that the prison sentence would cause Gault real anguish as she was going to be separated from her three children in their formative years.

She was convicted by a majority verdict at Belfast Crown Court in March after three days of deliberation by the jury.

The prosecution case was that the 35-year-old set her husband up by providing vital information to the killer of her husband.

It is difficult to comprehend how someone could be so callous

Lord Justice Campbell

Her former lover, fireman Neil Gordon Graham, from Wheatfield, The Granary, Ballygowan in County Down, is serving a life sentence for the murder.

When jailed in December last year, Graham was told he would serve at least 20 years for his part in the brutal killing.

The jury at that trial failed to reach a verdict on his co-accused Gault and she was sent for retrial.

'Deep remorse'

Before sentencing on Friday, Gault's barrister read out a statement from he minister.

John McCrudden QC, said the letter was unsolicited and showed she was a person who experienced deep remorse at what had happened to her husband.

He confirmed that she intended to appeal her murder conviction.

The barrister also described her as a woman who had been tried through the media for adultery.

"She is alone. She is friendless," Mr McCrudden said.

"She is without her children and she faces a long period of imprisonment."

"Infatuation"

Lord Justice Campbell said he doubted whether Mrs Gault would have been involved in the killing of her husband had it not been for an affair she had with Graham "and their complete infatuation with one another".

"It is difficult to comprehend how someone could be so callous," the judge said.

Paul Gault, 34, was found beaten to death in the bedroom of his Audley Avenue home in Lisburn, County Antrim, on 19 May 2000.

After delivering their verdict, many in the jury - who were excused from further jury services for life - appeared distressed and some wept openly as they left the court.

Members of Paul Gault's family cheered and jumped to their feet as the verdict was read out.

Speaking afterwards, Paul Gault's father, Paddy, said he was pleased that "justice had been done".

He said he would be seeking custody of the children, who currently live with Mrs Gault's parents.