Jilted wife guilty of rival's murder

Rena Salmon said she meant to kill herself at the salon

A jilted wife has been jailed for life after a court found her guilty of murdering her husband's girlfriend.

Rena Salmon admitted shooting Lorna Stewart in her beauty salon in Chiswick, west London, but said she had not gone there to kill her.

The jury rejected the defence's argument that she should be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Former Army corporal Salmon, who had attempted suicide twice after learning of her husband Paul's affair, has been sentenced to life in prison.

At the Old Bailey, Judge Neil Denison told the 43-year-old: "You know that there is only one sentence I can pass for the offence of murder - that is the one I do pass - life."

Peter Clarke QC, prosecuting, disclosed to the jury after the verdict was returned that Ms Stewart was two months pregnant when she was murdered.

This murder was planned and had been for some days

Det Insp Steve Morris

Revenge of a betrayed wife

Salmon did not know her husband's mistress was pregnant at the time of the shooting so it was ruled to be inadmissible evidence.

The Salmons had been friendly with Ms Stewart, 36, and her husband as they all lived in the same village of Great Shefford, Berkshire, and their children attended the same school.

But in January last year Ms Stewart's husband, Keith Rodrigues, told Salmon their spouses were having an affair.

Ms Stewart, who was born in Scotland, left her husband and set up home with Mr Salmon in Iver, Bucks.

In court Salmon said Ms Stewart had told her she was planning to marry her husband just three days before the murder, in September last year.

Lorna Stewart died in her salon

The jilted wife went to Ms Stewart's beauty salon and took a double-barrelled shotgun out of her car boot.

Ms Stewart asked her if she had come to shoot her and said: "What about your children?"

Salmon replied: "My children will be looked after by Paul."

She then made a "chilling" telephone call for an ambulance saying: "I have shot my husband's mistress."

Salmon told the court she had gone to the salon to shoot herself because no one would go to a salon where someone had "blown their brains out".

'Tragedy'

The court heard Salmon had remained calm throughout the shooting and smoked a cigarette afterwards.

When the verdict was delivered Salmon said nothing.

Her defence said she felt profound and genuine remorse and had been suffering from severe depression.

The judge said that when he made his recommendation on the length of time Salmon must serve before being considered for parole, he would take into account the points her counsel made.

Outside court Detective Inspector Steve Morris described the case as a "tragedy" for all those concerned.

Her main concern is for the families who have been touched by this tragedy

Tan Ikram, Salmon's solicitor

But he said: "I believe that the jury has come to the right decision.

"This murder was planned and had been for some days.

"She gave no thought to the welfare of Lorna's children."

After visiting her in the cells, Salmon's solicitor Tan Ikram said: "She is strong.

"Her main concern is for the families who have been touched by this tragedy."

Mr Ikram said Salmon was considering appealing against the verdict and added what began the sequence of events was not of her making.