In a case that reads like a classic crime thriller, a Cheltenham woman has been found guilty of murdering her husband in what prosecutors described as a "cold and calculated" poisoning plot carried out with her secret lover.
The Fatal Meal
Angela Schumann, 57, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court where the shocking details emerged of how she deliberately laced her husband's meal with highly toxic foxglove leaves. The court heard how Mrs Schumann served her 68-year-old husband, Thomas, a seemingly innocent salad containing the deadly plant material during a meal at their family home.
A Marriage of Deception
While the couple appeared to friends and family to be in a happy marriage of 35 years, the reality was far more sinister. Prosecutors revealed that Mrs Schumann had been engaged in a secret affair with landscape gardener Michael Robertson, 61, who allegedly assisted in planning the murder.
The prosecution stated: "This was not a spontaneous act but a carefully planned execution. Mrs Schumann knowingly collected foxglove leaves from her garden and incorporated them into her husband's food, presenting them as edible greens."
The Deadly Plant
Foxglove, while beautiful in appearance, contains digitalis - a powerful compound that can cause fatal heart complications even in small quantities. The plant is commonly found in British gardens but is notoriously dangerous if ingested.
Medical Emergency and Investigation
Mr Schumann fell violently ill shortly after consuming the contaminated meal and was rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to multiple organ failure days later.
Initially treated as a tragic accident, suspicions arose when medical staff noted the specific symptoms of foxglove poisoning. A police investigation uncovered the affair between Mrs Schumann and Mr Robertson, along with evidence suggesting the poisoning was deliberate.
Courtroom Revelations
During the three-week trial, the jury heard how:
- The couple had significant financial pressures and marital problems
- Text messages between the lovers discussed "permanent solutions" to Mrs Schumann's marital situation
- Mrs Schumann had researched toxic plants in the weeks before her husband's death
- Mr Robertson allegedly helped identify and source the foxglove leaves
Verdict and Sentencing
Angela Schumann was convicted of murder and awaits sentencing next month. Michael Robertson was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Both defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Davies, who led the investigation, commented outside court: "This was a chilling and premeditated act that exploited the trust within a marriage. Thomas Schumann believed he was eating a meal prepared with love, when in reality it was laced with death."
