Hospital scientist jailed for life for murdering wife with cushion

A court has heard how Andrew Booth, 44, first tried to kill his 50-year-old wife Lorraine with a rag soaked in anaesthetic he stole from Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he was head of biomedical sciences.

He then used the cushion after Mrs Booth was rendered unconscious.

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A jury at Sheffield Crown Court was told how the couple's 20-year-old marriage had broken down and Booth may have been facing a £60,000 divorce payout.

He first claimed he had found his wife dead on the floor of their home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, later trying to claim he had muffled her during an argument.

Today the jury found him guilty of murder after more than a day of deliberations, on an 11-1 majority.

The judge, Mr Justice Beatson, jailed Booth for life but said he must wait until tomorrow to find out how long he must serve before he can be considered for release.

As the jury foreman read out the verdict Booth, who was dressed in a dark suit, closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly.

There were stifled cries of relief from members of Mrs Booth's family who packed the public gallery.

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The judge described the case as a "tragedy" but said he would say more in the morning.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told how the defendant tried to portray Mrs Booth as a "serious alcoholic" who was drinking herself to death at home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

He even injected her wine with ethanol.

The court heard how Mrs Booth, a barmaid, became concerned when she "passed out" after a couple of glasses of wine at home.

Booth told friends and relatives his wife had a serious drinking problem and even presented a "drink diary" to members of her family.

The couple had separated by 2005 and were living apart. Booth remained in the house with their daughter, 21, and son, 12, and Mrs Booth lived in a flat above the pub where she worked.

She was found dead on the night of July 11 last year at the family home in Tankersley Lane, Hoyland Common, Barnsley.

A post-mortem examination found no evidence of crime but after relatives took their concerns to the police, a second post mortem was carried out.

This revealed signs of suffocation and traces of the anaesthetic. It showed no signs of alcoholism.