Man guilty of plotting wife death

Serial womaniser and alcoholic Lovers trapped by text message

A man plotted to murder his wife by encouraging his lover to stab her to death while he created an alibi at a friend's house, a jury has decided.

Stephen Marsh denied the murder of Jaspal, 36, who was stabbed to death at their marital home in Gorseinon, Swansea, by his lover, Rebecca Harris.

Harris, 30, admitted the knife attack on 29 July 2006, but insisted she was persuaded to do so by Mr Marsh, 36.

Relatives and friends of the victim, reacted with a cry of "die in hell".

The jury was told how Marsh and Harris met at the directory inquiries call centre in Swansea where they both worked.

During the eight months of their affair they had developed a sado-masochistic relationship.

Jaspal Marsh died after she was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom

Footage found on Marsh's mobile phone showed him cutting Harris with a knife as she lay tied to a bed - the same eight-inch bladed knife she later used to kill his wife.

Harris confessed to the murder within a short time, telling detectives she had been persuaded to do it by Marsh.

Harris, married to a 70-year-old with whom she has a young son, said she had eventually agreed, to "get her off his back."

On the night of Jaspal Marsh's murder, she met her lover hours before she drove to their marital home where Marsh had arranged for the door to be left open.

I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do, Rebecca Harris

He sent her texts urging her on before finally sending one saying "Do it. Just do it."

Harris told the court how the door of the couple's three-bedroom home was open when she turned the handle.

Marsh had previously sent a text to his wife saying: "I'm still in the Potters with Andy. Just leave front door open. I'm getting a life home. Luv u."

The couple's dog was there but he was familiar with Harris from her previous visits to the house for illicit sex.

"I went straight to the kitchen, I got the knife out of the knife block like Stephen had told me to do," she said.

Rebecca Harris told the court that Marsh was controlling her

"He (Marsh) told me to pick the largest one from the knife block. It was quiet. It was pitch black."

But to her surprise when she reached the bedroom, Mrs Marsh was still awake.

"All of a sudden, she came flying off the bed straight for me." she said.

"She pushed my head up against the chest of drawers, I had the knife in my hand and all I can remember is stabbing her once or twice."

After a short recess after she broke down in the dock, Harris told the court: "The moonlight was shining and in the bedroom I could see her eyes were glazed just motionless."

Mrs Marsh had suffered 16 serious stab wounds to the chest and back, as well as six other deep stab wounds to her left arm and 13 superficial injuries.

Meanwhile, Marsh had tried to secure himself an alibi by arranging to go out with a friend. He was careful to send text messages explaining his movements to his wife, even after learning she was dead.

My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way Sukhdeep Rehal

Once Harris had run out of the house, she sent Marsh a text which read: "She screamed and fought I'm shaking so much."

"You're a star. I luv u," came his reply.

Marsh stayed the night at his friend's house playing video games. He met up his lover the following morning, they went to work and then she gave him a lift home.

"He was very, very cold towards me, as if he did not want to touch me. He did not kiss me, stroke my hand, nothing," she said.

Once inside the house, Marsh went to inspect his wife's body before calling police.

Denying any involvement in her death, he claimed he loved his wife and that his numerous affairs were down to "stupidity".

He told the court: "She (Harris) knew how much I loved Jas. She was going to be my wife forever.

About 30 police officers were involved in the murder inquiry

And he had told police: "It would crucify me to lose Jas. I rely on her completely. I am hoping it was a random burglary that went wrong."

But just as he had failed to convince police soon after they arrived at the murder scene, his words failed to convince the jury.

Around two days later, Harris was arrested and soon afterwards she admitted the murder. She said Marsh had promised her a life together and threatened to kill her if she did not go through with it.

Adjourning sentencing for three weeks, Judge Roderick Evans told Marsh: "You will appreciate that the only sentence I could pass is life imprisonment but I have to set a minimum term."

He said that he would also sentence Harris at the same time.

Paying tribute to Jaspal, her brother Sukhdeep Rehal said: "My sister was a wonderful person who didn't deserve to die in such a horrific way.

"The world is a lonelier place without her," he added.