A CHEATING wife recruited her ex-Royal Marine lover to murder her soldier husband and cash in his life insurance, a court heard.
Michelle Mills, 46, allegedly staged a fake armed break-in as part of the plot to kill Christopher Mills.
Michelle Mills plotted to kill her husband, a court heard[/caption]
She had been having an affair with Geraint Berry[/caption]
Christopher Mills managed to foil the alleged plot[/caption]
Jurors heard she had been involved in a three-month affair with former Marine Geraint Berry, 46, and told him she wanted her husband dead so they could “move forward” together.
Mills and Berry allegedly discussed possible ways of killing Christopher – including ground-up sleeping pills in his drink and smothering him with a pillow.
The lovers also plotted to potentially put foxgloves in his salad or anti-freeze in his gravy, Swansea Crown Court heard.
But Mills and Berry allegedly settled on a staged “invasion” while Christopher, 48, was staying at their holiday caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire.
Jurors were told the planned raid took place just one month after his £124,000 life insurance came into effect.
Mills stood to inherit the amount, which was part of a policy through Christopher’s work for veteran charity Help For Heroes.
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said: “Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry had embarked on a secret sexual relationship which, on Geraint Berry’s part at least, had become increasingly intense.
“Berry, encouraged on by Michelle Mills, had become increasingly occupied by hostile thoughts about Christopher Mills.”
The court heard on September 20, Berry “recruited” fellow soldier Steven Thomas to carry out the attack – arming themselves with guns while wearing masks.
But the pair fled when they were disarmed by Mills and were later found by cops hiding in a bush, it was said.
Jurors were told officers found gasmasks with filter canisters, cable ties, pliers, cloths and a telescopic gun sight in their ruscksacks.
There was also a fake “suicide note” made to look like it was written by Mills and addressed to his wife whose nickname is “Babs”.
Mr Rees said Berry had sent messages to “my queen” Michelle Mills saying he would put her husband “in the f***ing ground.”
He also allegedly told her he would “f***ing kill him” while talking about arranging for hitmen to carry out the murder.
Mills messaged Berry to say: “I need him gone one way or another” so she and Berry could “move forward” together.
The court she also sent a message to Berry shortly after the raid, telling him: “Police have been called. Get away. Delete all contact on both phones. I love you”.
Mills later told police the plot to kill her husband was just a “fantasy”.
She also said she never wanted her husband to be hurt but claimed killing him was “just a fantasy that she could escape to.”
Berry, Thomas, 47, and Mills of Llanelli, all deny conspiracy to murder.
Mills also denies attempting to pervert the court of justice in relation to deleting phone messages and her account to police.
Berry and Thomas have previously pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.
The trial at Swansea Crown Court continues.
Mills, pictured with Christopher, claimed the plot was a ‘fantasy’[/caption]
Berry had shared messages with Mills about how to kill his love rival, jurors heard[/caption]
He allegedly recruited fellow soldier Steven Thomas[/caption]
