A 'bubbly' and 'lovely' mum-of-four was murdered by her former husband just yards away from her sleeping kids.
Russell Norman James Marsh, appeared in Mold Crown Court on Wednesday, April 6, where he was convicted of murdering his ex-wife Jade Marsh, also known as Jade Ward. Marsh, of Chevrons Road in Shotton, denied a charge of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter, DailyPost reports.
The 27-year-old mum from Shotton was described as a 'lovely, bubbly and popular girl' after she was found dead at her home on Thursday, August 26 last year. Marsh claimed he believed she was "trying to drive him to suicide" in order to claim his £1m life insurance pay-out.
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Ms Ward was found last summer after being slashed, stabbed and strangled in her own bed, before being buried under a pile of clothes. Her death sparked a major police investigation and led to Marsh's eventual arrest.
During Marsh's trial, Ms Ward's friends and family gave emotional and compelling evidence about the mum's troubled relationship with the defendant. Experts were also called before the jury to help them understand what may have gone on in the box bedroom of the night of the murder.
Marsh previously told the court a "white noise" had washed over him following an argument with Ms Ward and he had tried to "stop" her "from talking" by putting his hands around her neck and mouth. Moments later, he claimed he came to, and she was dead.
After the judge summed up the case on Wednesday, the jury was sent out this afternoon to consider their verdict.
Around two hours later they returned to court and found him guilty of murder. The court heard that Marsh will be sentenced "sooner rather than later", according to Judge Rhys Rowlands, so that the family can see the case come to a conclusion. This will happen on Tuesday, April 12.
Addressing Marsh, the judge said: "She lost her life at your hands in what was a brutal and remarkably cruel attack after ending a relationship. I shudder to think. Her young children were just yards away when you did what you did.
"I watched you throughout this trial and you haven't shown the slightest bit of remorse. There can only be one sentence for murder and that is of life imprisonment."
He commended the friends and family for their "remarkable" restraint after listening to "falsehoods and slurs" aimed at Ms Ward and her family. Members of Ms Ward's family and friends leaned over the public gallery to thank the jury following the result. They also applauded jurors as they left the court building.
