A woman who orchestrated a violent plot to murder her husband, secure a six-figure life insurance payout, and run away with her secret lover has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The Attack and the Deceptive Call to Police
Michelle Mills, 46, reported to police that her husband, Christopher Mills, had been attacked by two men at their property in Cenarth, Wales. She claimed she had no idea why anyone would want to harm him. However, her husband had bravely fought off the assailants, who fled the scene. Initially treated as an aggravated burglary, the investigation took a sinister turn when officers uncovered a cache of disturbing items.
A Trove of Terror and Sinister Messages
Police searches revealed a haul of equipment that pointed towards a premeditated plan. This included gas masks, cable ties, balaclavas, and firearms. The most damning evidence, however, was found on mobile phones. Detectives discovered a staggering 2,301 messages between Michelle Mills and her 47-year-old lover, Geraint Berry. Their exchanges discussed numerous methods to kill Christopher Mills, from smothering him with a pillow and poisoning his salad with foxgloves to lacing his gravy with anti-freeze.
The Fraudulent Suicide Note and Financial Motive
The plot's cold calculation was further exposed by a fabricated suicide note. Mills and Berry wrote a fake confession in which Christopher Mills allegedly admitted to raping and beating his wife – claims the court heard were complete lies. The murder plan was activated just weeks after a life insurance policy from Help For Heroes, for which Christopher was eligible as a former soldier, came into effect. The policy made Michelle Mills the sole beneficiary of a £124,000 payout.
At Swansea Crown Court, the full extent of the conspiracy was laid bare. Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry were both convicted for their roles. Michelle Mills received a 19-year prison sentence for her part in the attempted murder and fraud plot. The case serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of betrayal and greed, uncovered by meticulous police work that pieced together a web of messages and evidence.
