Cause of death revealed after man who murdered 'cheerful and kind' wife dies

Yahoo

8 hours ago

A WIFE-murderer who hid her body in a septic tank and got away with it for almost four decades died of pneumonia, an inquest heard.
David Venables, a former pig farmer in Kempsey, was convicted of the murder of 48-year-old Brenda in May 1982 after he hid her body in an underground septic tank on their 440-acre farm.
An inquest at Shropshire Coroner's Court in Shrewsbury yesterday (Thursday) found the killer had died of pneumonia after battling urothelial cancer.
The 92-year-old was jailed in July 2022, nearly 40 years since Brenda's murder, after her body was found during routine maintenance of the septic tank in 2019.
David Venables hid his wife's body in a septic tank. (Image: West Mercia Police) Venables was arrested three weeks later for the murder, which he denied in court, instead blaming serial killer Fred West for her death.
He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, but he only spent less than three years behind bars before his death at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on December 16, 2024.
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A spokesperson for Shropshire Coroner's Court said: "David John Venables died on December 16, 2024, at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
"He died as the result of pneumonia.
"Contributing to his death was the natural progression of urothelial cancer, obstructive uropathy and diabetes mellitus."
The murderer had been imprisoned at HMP Stoke Heath, near Telford.
CHEERFUL: Brenda outside her home in Kempsey. (Image: West Mercia Police) An investigation into Venables death by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman is currently in progress.
In 2019, a murder investigation was launched and, through DNA testing, the remains found in the tank were identified as Brenda's.
The condition of the remains meant her cause of death could not be established.
MISSED: Brenda was described as a cheerful and kind-natured person. (Image: West Mercia Police) During the trial, the court heard that the couple were in an unhappy marriage and outlined the 14-year affair he had with another woman.
In a 2022 statement, the family of Brenda said: "If Brenda had never met her murderer, we can imagine her cheerful and kind nature would have led her to much joy and happiness as an adult.
"She would have continued her many friendships, from Young Farmers and beyond.
"Her parents would have been spared the unending wait for her return, and been comforted by her continued care of them.
"We continue to miss Brenda and we will never forget her.
"Her characteristics live on in our family."