Agent sentenced to 30 years for ‘love rival’ murder
Former Crystal Ski agent Sarah Williams will serve a minimum of 30 years in prison after she and an accomplice were found guilty of the murder of businesswoman Sadie Hartley.
Williams, 35, from Blacon, Chester (pictured), who worked at the Crystal Ski shop at Chill Factore, an indoor ski centre in Manchester, shot Ms Hartley, 60, with a stun gun before repeatedly stabbing her.
Preston Crown Court heard Williams was ‘obsessive and jealous’ and had planned the murder of her love rival for 18 months.
She had had a brief affair with Ian Johnston, who had ended the relationship before getting together and marrying Ms Hartley.
Williams’ accomplice, horse-riding instructor Katrina Walsh, 56, was also found guilty during the seven-week trial. She was also given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 25 years.
The court heard Walsh kept notes of the murder plot in her diary.
During the trial, both women blamed each other for the murder.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Turner likened the attack to the ‘slaughtering of an animal’ and said it was a ‘crime of pure evil’.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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