A businessman has been found guilty of luring his wife's secret lover to a remote farm in south-west Wales before 'executing' him. Andrew Jones, 53, shot dead Michael O'Leary at a farm in Carmarthenshire after discovering the affair with his wife, Rhianon.
Jones burned O'Leary's remains, reading from an old funeral service as the flames consumed his friend's body. He attempted to cover up the crime by making O'Leary's disappearance appear as a suicide. The jury at Swansea Crown Court rejected his claim that the rifle discharged accidentally during a struggle.
The court heard that on 27 January, Jones used his wife's mobile phone to lure O'Leary to the farm with a message promising a 'cwtch' (cuddle). When O'Leary arrived, Jones was hiding behind a dustbin armed with a .22 Colt rifle. He opened fire, then drove O'Leary's car to a riverside, sending messages purporting to be from O'Leary to his family, including 'I am so sorry x'. Jones put on O'Leary's shoes and walked to the river to simulate a suicide.
Jones cycled back to the farm, transported O'Leary's body to his home in Carmarthen, and destroyed it. He told the jury he found an old funeral service to recite as he burned the body. O'Leary's body has never been found; only a small piece of intestine was recovered from the fire site.
Suspicion fell on Jones after he was seen with a scratch on his face. The fake suicide note written in English rather than Welsh also raised concerns. Jones admitted luring O'Leary but claimed the gun went off during a struggle. He said he took the 'scariest' gun from his collection to frighten O'Leary, and that O'Leary lunged for it.
Prosecutor William Hughes QC argued that Jones had planned the ambush to 'execute' O'Leary. The trial judge, Mrs Justice Jefford, stated that Jones will receive a life sentence, with a minimum term to be set at a later hearing.
