Couple charged with wedding-night murder
A pair of British newlyweds are accused of murder after a violent confrontation that occurred after the bride slept with another man on her wedding night.
Groom Barry Johnson and his new wife Wendy Shobrook allegedly beat George Auchterlonie to death after he spent the night with the bride, a court has heard.
Ms Shobrook, 39, had allegedly walked out on her 40-year-old husband just hours after the service because she believed he was not paying her enough attention. He had left the reception to pick up his welfare from a nearby unemployment centre.
The couple then had an argument at home that resulted in Ms Shobrook setting fire to Mr Johnson's bed and then allegedly running into the arms of Mr Auchterlonie.
But the following morning she phoned her husband and claimed his 45-year-old Auchterlonie tried to rape her, the court heard.
Ms Shobrook then allegedly let Mr Johnson into his love rival's flat where he savagely beat the father of four with an oar and a glass.
Both newlyweds reportedly took part in the beating that left the Plymouth man with 38 separate injuries.
He was left lying in a pool of his own blood and was not seen again until his dead body was discovered three days later.
"I kicked hell out of him and broke a glass over his head. There was claret everywhere. I gave him a bloody good hiding," Johnson allegedly boasted to friends, the Daily Mail reports.
The prosecution claims that Ms Shobrook deliberately set up her lover for the beating by concocting a rape story and allowing her husband access to the victim's home in June last year.
They alleged that she had been involved in a sexual relationship for a period leading up to their spur-of-the-moment wedding, which took place at a register office in front of three friends.
The trial continues.
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