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FACTFILEl
Before his
disappearance Mr Banfield had feared his wife was trying
to kill him by putting poison in his food, and told a
friend and his local doctor that he had been handcuffed
to the bed overnight.
Banfield told
friends he woke up to find his wife trying to put a
plastic bag over his head, while another time his
daughter squirted furniture polish in his eyes while his
wife brandished a knife.
His disappearance was treated as a missing person case
until 2009 after Mr Banfield's previous employers
William Hill became suspicious.
13th May
2001, His marriage on the rocks, Don decided to sell
the family home in Locket Road, Wealdstone North London.
Shortly after
signing a contract to sell the house, making a
£123,000 profit, Don Banfield was never seen again.
19th May
2001, a friend reported Don Banfield missing to
police.
Police carried
out an initial investigation, but believed he had
vanished of his own accord.
October
2009, a routine review of the case was conducted. As
a result of several irregularities identified in
relation to his state and private pensions, and
disability benefit claims, the investigation was handed
to the Homicide and Serious Crime squad of Harrow
Police.
23rd
February 2010, Shirley and Lynette were arrested at
their new home in Canterbury, Kent for murder and fraud.
During the investigation police had dug up the front
garden at the former family home in Wealdstone, as well
as digging in local allotments.
2011,
The women were arrested after police failed to discover
any evidence that Mr Bandfield was actually alive,3
years after they last claimed to have seen him alive; a
claim that they later admitted was a lie and pleaded
guilty to perverting the course of justice.
They also
admitted conspiracy to defraud William Hill of £29,451
in pension payments and forging a disability allowance
application.
Thursday
8th March 2012, trial starts of the mother and
daughter at the Old Bailey in London.
Thursday
29th March 2012, Jury retires to consider
verdict.
Tuesday 3rd
April 2012, Shirley Banfield and her daughter Lynette
Banfield, both found guilty of murder, by a majority
verdict of 10 - 1.
During the trial
it was revealed that Shirley Banfield dishonestly claimed
her husband was still live, and claimed over £30,000 from
his William Hill Pension, as well attempting to claim state
benefits in his name,.
Both women were
sentenced to life imprisonment, a minimum term of 18 years
for Shirley Banfield and 16 years for her daughter.
They were also
jailed for 42 months each, to run concurrently with their
life sentences, for dishonesty and perverting the course of
justice.
No body has ever
been recovered.
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