Debt-ridden Man 'had His Devoted Ex-wife Murdered

[sassienie]

Daily Mail UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...l-problems.html

A debt-ridden man arranged for a business associate to kill his ex-wife to secure her ‘pot of gold’, a court heard today.

Graham Birchwood, known by his middle name of George, was unemployed and faced financial difficulties after ventures in Thailand failed.

His ex-wife, Sharon Birchwood, was devoted to him despite their divorce in 1989 and he was the sole beneficiary of her will, Croydon Crown Court, sitting at Croydon Magistrates' Court, was told.

Birchwood, 55, of Stevens Close, Epsom, Surrey, denies murdering Mrs Birchwood, 52, on December 4, 2007.

Her fully clothed body was found ‘cruelly trussed up’ at a bungalow the couple jointly owned in Harriotts Lane, Ashtead, on December 7, 2007.

Ambulance crews discovered the body after the defendant called 999 shortly after 1.30pm saying he had just found his ex-wife with a cord around her neck.

Her hands, feet and head were bound and gagged with parcel tape.

Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said electrical cord had been wound round her head and a small metal handle had been used to tighten the bindings, acting as a tourniquet.

He said: ‘Sharon Birchwood had indeed in effect been strangled. The ligature compression around her neck and the forceful gagging of her mouth had caused asphyxia and death.

‘She had plainly been murdered.’

The court heard that Birchwood appeared calm as he told police what he had discovered when he called in on his way to a diabetic clinic in Epsom.

There was no sign of forced entry or a struggle, with Mrs Birchwood apparently taken by complete ‘surprise’.

Mr Dennis said: ‘These were the actions of someone who had come to the premises, not in order to steal nor to sexually assault, but in order to kill Sharon Birchwood - something that was achieved with ruthless efficiency, leaving no fingerprints nor any other obvious clues.’

Birchwood had remarried and had two sons, but, at the time of Mrs Birchwood's death, he had separated from his second wife, the court heard.

Mr Dennis said the defendant had loans and debts totalling more than £150,000 and relied on state benefits.

Sharon was found dead in her home, bound and gagged, last December

‘Mrs Birchwood was a quiet, harmless, ordinary person who muddled along in life burdened by ill-health and a lack of any real social life,’ Mr Dennis said.

Although she had struggled financially, the home was valuable.

In addition, she was devoted to Mr Birchwood and most of her family and friends did not know they were divorced because she did not tell them and even continued to sign greetings cards from them both.

Mr Dennis said: ‘Sharon Birchwood had, for the past 30 years, been devoted to the defendant.

‘Following their divorce, she had simply not moved on in her life.

‘To her dying day, she would have done anything for the defendant.

‘He, on the other hand, was not so devoted and he used her to his own advantage up to the end.’

The court heard that Birchwood described Mrs Birchwood to the police as an ‘intelligent vegetable’, referring to her deteriorating health, which left her feeling tired and depressed.

Birchwood, meanwhile, was struggling financially and personally.

Mr Dennis said: ‘His only hope for any change to his circumstances was if he found a pot of gold - enough money to allow him to clear his debts and start all over again.

‘To that end, it is alleged, the defendant, for the final time, turned to make use of his former wife.’

In the event of his ex-spouse's death, he stood to gain full title of the £400,000 Harriotts Lane property plus her £75,000 life insurance policy - sums which would have cleared his debts and provided a motive for her killing, the prosecution alleged.

‘He would be free to leave the country and settle with his various business friends and associates in Thailand and start again, if he so chose,’ Mr Dennis said.

‘What the defendant could not afford to do, and no doubt would not have wanted to do, was run the risk of carrying out the murder of Sharon himself.

‘He would have appreciated that he was always liable to become a suspect in any subsequent police investigation.

‘It was important therefore that the killing was planned with care, getting someone who would be prepared to do such a deed, no doubt for payment, and who could do so without being noticed and who could disappear after the event without ever attracting the attention of the police.

‘Equally, the defendant had to ensure that, at the time of the murder, he had an alibi.

‘All the defendant had to do thereafter was keep a cool head, appear to assist the police with their inquiries and, if all went to plan, then claim on Sharon's life insurance policy, inherit her estate and move on free of all his financial burdens.

‘And it nearly worked for him - indeed, had it not been for some painstaking forensic work, the defendant would have got away with this.’

The man the prosecution alleges committed the murder was Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand.

Cryne's DNA was found on Mrs Birchwood's hand and on a roll of tape, according to Mr Dennis.

He is currently in custody in Thailand awaiting extradition to the UK.

The case continues.

[qualtrough]

Good grief! Is there no foul deed the Thais are incapable of? Wait, the culprits are all Brits? Never mind.

[pattaya_girl]

Poor woman !!

[Heng]

If only the Thai legal and commercial system weren't so biased against foreigners, this retard might never have done this. And look, he's bald too.

[johna]

Cryne's DNA was found on Mrs Birchwood's hand and on a roll of tape, according to Mr Dennis.

He is currently in custody in Thailand awaiting extradition to the UK.

The case continues.

lets hope the extradition proceedings are as slow as possible.

[Geekfreaklover]

If only the Thai legal and commercial system weren't so biased against foreigners, this retard might never have done this. And look, he's bald too.

Probably got a load of tatoos under that suit.... If the thai legal immigration system wasn't so strict he would probably have got away with it.

It doesn't mention if they had children. Sad story.

[sanook2me]

The man the prosecution alleges committed the murder was Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand.

wonder what his life story is like and where he lived in Thailand

61 years old ! now in jail for murder

very sad story...

[trogers]

See what men can do for a few tens of million baht. How much more will be done for Bt76b?

[Spaniel]

The man the prosecution alleges committed the murder was Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand.

wonder what his life story is like and where he lived in Thailand

61 years old ! now in jail for murder

very sad story...

google Paul Cryne and you will get all the dirt on this guy. I would provide a "link" but I dont know how to do it!

[deprogrammed]

Obviously a vegatable himself - to think the police in the Uk didn't have his nasty history

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/06...l_18799527.html

[sanook2me]

Obviously a vegatable himself - to think the police in the Uk didn't have his nasty history

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/06...l_18799527.html

Paul Cryne, 42 Pattaya in October 2003 from the link

Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand

2003 - 2009 = 6 years

are you sure its the same bloke

The ages don't match or am i missing something

[imaneggspurt]

Obviously a vegatable himself - to think the police in the Uk didn't have his nasty history

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/06...l_18799527.html

Paul Cryne, 42 Pattaya in October 2003 from the link

Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand

2003 - 2009 = 6 years

are you sure its the same bloke

The ages don't match or am i missing something

They are the same person, 100 per cent,.

[imaneggspurt]

Obviously a vegatable himself - to think the police in the Uk didn't have his nasty history

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/10/06...l_18799527.html

Paul Cryne, 42 Pattaya in October 2003 from the link

Paul Cryne, a 61-year-old from Manchester who lived in Thailand

2003 - 2009 = 6 years

are you sure its the same bloke

The ages don't match or am i missing something

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/British-skyd...-sho-t3026.html

This will help,......

[stumblebum]

Cryne's DNA was found on Mrs Birchwood's hand and on a roll of tape, according to Mr Dennis.

He is currently in custody in Thailand awaiting extradition to the UK.

The case continues.

lets hope the extradition proceedings are as slow as possible.

who is protecting Cryne in Thailand so he is not extradited to UK for murder? i would think if he started talking he would have a lot to say!!!!!!

[Jimjim]

I guess craziness happens everywhere in the world.

He's not necessarily being protected, negotiations for extradition are often long and hard.

[stumblebum]

I guess craziness happens everywhere in the world.

He's not necessarily being protected, negotiations for extradition are often long and hard.

Birchwood recieved 32 years for his wife's murder it should not take longer then 32 minutes too deprt CRYNE back to England

[bikerman]

If only the Thai legal and commercial system weren't so biased against foreigners, this retard might never have done this. And look, he's bald too.

Probably got a load of tatoos under that suit..

What’s wrong with tattoos then? Also what has got to do with this case? bet you don’t go up to every guy or girl with tattoos and ask…!!!!!! Hey why have you got tattoos, you look like a murderer No didn’t think so just say FA. To many sarcastic lumps like you in the world and Thailand all mouth but no action……………by the way I don’t have tattoos, just mind my own business and get on with my life not everyone’s else’s, but of course lumps like you can not resist but one day my son one day you will be posting …Help why did I find myself on my arse…said nothing just looked!!!!!!! ....but its the way you look sometimes gives you away.....

[callipposhots]

Man extradited from Thailand denies Birchwood murder

September 07, 2009

A 61-YEAR-OLD man extradited from Thailand has denied strangling a frail ME sufferer in her Ashtead home.

Paul Cryne, who is also known as Paul Baker, is accused of murdering Sharon Birchwood on December 4, 2007.

The 52-year-old divorcee was allegedly throttled with electrical cord and packing tape at her bungalow in Harriott’s Lane.

Cryne appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink for a short hearing on Monday when he pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder.

Judge Brian Barker QC set a trial date for March 1 next year. The case is expected to last up to five weeks.

Cryne, who is originally from Torquay, Devon, was remanded in custody. He was extradited from Thailand last month.

not surprised he's denying it. After all, it worked out OK for him the last time he was on trial for murder.

[Geekfreaklover]

If only the Thai legal and commercial system weren't so biased against foreigners, this retard might never have done this. And look, he's bald too.

Probably got a load of tatoos under that suit..

What's wrong with tattoos then? Also what has got to do with this case? bet you don't go up to every guy or girl with tattoos and ask…!!!!!! Hey why have you got tattoos, you look like a murderer No didn't think so just say FA. To many sarcastic lumps like you in the world and Thailand all mouth but no action……………by the way I don't have tattoos, just mind my own business and get on with my life not everyone's else's, but of course lumps like you can not resist but one day my son one day you will be posting …Help why did I find myself on my arse…said nothing just looked!!!!!!! ....but its the way you look sometimes gives you away.....

?

[march]

Man extradited from Thailand denies Birchwood murder

September 07, 2009

Paul Cryne, who is also known as Paul Baker, is accused of murdering Sharon Birchwood on December 4, 2007.

The 52-year-old divorcee was allegedly throttled with electrical cord and packing tape at her bungalow in Harriott’s Lane.

Cryne appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink for a short hearing on Monday when he pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder.

An update to this topic from the BBC. Guilty:

Hitman guilty of Surrey housewife murder

Paul Cryne Detectives traced Cryne to Thailand's expatriate community and extradited him to face trial

A hitman who flew to the UK from Thailand to kill a housewife in Surrey has been found guilty of murder.

Paul Cryne, 62, had denied flying home to carry out the killing on behalf of Sharon Birchwood's ex-husband for a £30,000 fee to pay off his debts.

Disabled Mrs Birchwood, 52, of Ashtead, was found strangled and "trussed up" with parcel tape.

Cryne, who was extradited from Thailand to face trial at the Old Bailey, is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.

The victim's husband, Graham Birchwood, 54, who stood to gain a £475,000 "pot of gold" from her death, was jailed for life in June 2009 and told he would serve at least 32 years after being convicted of murder at Croydon Crown Court.

The court heard Mrs Birchwood, who walked with a stick, was found with her ankles and wrists tightly bound together.

She had been bound and gagged, and her wrists had been pulled up to her face.

'Die in prison'

Prosecuting, Mark Dennis QC said electrical cord had been repeatedly wrapped around her head and a small metal handle had been used to tighten the cord, acting as a tourniquet.

After the guilty verdict was returned, Judge Jeremy Roberts said of Cryne:

"He may be right in thinking that he'll die in prison."

The court heard the British expatriate, a swimming world record holder who still holds a Guinness underwater record, left few clues for detectives when he carried out the "execution" of the frail woman.

He flew in from Thailand at the end of October 2007, two months before the murder, and stayed with Birchwood at his mother's house in Banstead.

Two days before the killing, he gave the impression he was going to stay with friends in the West Country, but stayed in Surrey.

But he murdered Mrs Birchwood after she returned from a shopping trip in Guildford and was at Heathrow within three hours, awaiting a flight back to Thailand.

DNA traces on Mrs Birchwood's hand and on the parcel tape did not match any on the police database.

But Cryne left DNA and fingerprints on a cup at the house in Banstead.

The fingerprints matched police records from 1972 when Cryne was jailed for seven years for holding his girlfriend hostage.

Detectives traced him to Thailand's expat community and extradited him to face trial.

The court heard Birchwood had needed the money tied up in his ex-wife's bungalow and life insurance policy to pay off debts of £150,000 following a string of business failures in Thailand.

Cryne, a former bodyguard who was originally from Manchester and later lived in Devon, was said to be "proud of being a street fighter" and boasted he could incapacitate a man with a single blow.

He moved to the Thai resort of Pattaya in the 1990s after receiving a £500,000 payout following an accident in which he was hit by a boat while diving off the Maldives.

But by 2007, he had run out of money and had debts of £11,000.

After the hearing, Det Ch Insp Maria Woodall said Mrs Birchwood lived a "quiet, harmless, ordinary lifestyle, burdened by ill health and living in rather poor conditions with little social life and no known enemies".

She said: "She was totally betrayed by the greed of the man she had married and been devoted to for 30 years."

She added: "Birchwood made the callous decision that his ex-wife must die and then set about a ruthless plot which he hoped would distance himself from this evil crime.

"He involved Cryne as part of this devious plan and that his plan failed is a tribute to the officers."

She said Mrs Birchwood had been divorced some 20 ago, but this was not disclosed to many people and she kept up the pretence to her family and friends.

Witnesses told police that Mrs Birchwood remained devoted to her ex-husband through the years, and he had continued to visit the property every week.

BBC - Aug. 10, 2010

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-10929858

[march]

An update to this topic from the BBC. Guilty:

Hitman guilty of Surrey housewife murder

Cryne, who was extradited from Thailand to face trial at the Old Bailey, is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.

and the sentence is...

Hit man gets life for killing ailing woman

LONDON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A former bodyguard and scuba diving record holder could die in prison for killing an ailing British woman whose ex-husband wanted her money, a judge said.

Paul Cryne, 62, received a sentence of life with a minimum of 28 1/2 years at a hearing Wednesday in London, The Guardian reported.

"You may well spend the rest of your life behind bars," Judge Jeremy Roberts told him.

Investigators said Cryne and Jeremy Birchwood both hoped to profit from the death of Sharon Birchwood, 52, who was a semi-invalid. She left her ex-husband 475,000 pounds ($745,000) even though they had been divorced for two decades. Birchwood, seeking a hit man who could not be linked to him, found Cryne in Thailand and offered him 30,000 pounds ($47,000) for the job.

Cryne, who once held a world record for swimming underwater with scuba equipment, had blown through a large insurance settlement from a boat accident in Malaya.

Investigators linked Cryne to the killing through DNA at the scene that matched DNA found at Birchwood's house. They also found his fingerprints, on record because of a 1972 conviction for assault.

Prosecuting, Mark Dennis QC said electrical cord had been repeatedly wrapped around her head and a small metal handle had been used to tighten the cord, acting as a tourniquet.

After the guilty verdict was returned, Judge Jeremy Roberts said of Cryne:

"He may be right in thinking that he'll die in prison."

Mr. Dennis was correct.