Wife Jailed For Killing Husband

31 July 2012, 16:13 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A 44-year-old woman from Nottinghamshire has been jailed for life after being found guilty to the murder of her husband.

Charlotte Collinge from Market Warsop appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday 31st July 2012 and was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in jail.

Two other men, Stephen David Shreeves and Kelvin Scott Dale, were also found guilty of assisting the murder with Charlotte Collinge. Both of the men were sentenced to life in prison, each serving a minimum of 18 years.

The two men were also found guilty of assaulting a 36-year-old man and each received two more years in prison, to run alongside the life sentence.

The court heard how Mrs Collinge persuaded Shreeves, of Laurel Avenue and Dale, of Forest Road, Market Warsop, to go home with her after a night out at a local pub,she then encouraged the men to carry murder her husband. Mr Collinge's body was found with 46 sustained injuries, shortly after 22:00 on Saturday 8th October 2011.

Temporary Superintendent Kate Meynell, who led the investigation, told Capital: "While the criminal justice system has come through for Cliff and his family, and the sentences handed down today may offer them some comfort, they have still lost their loved one. "The family has been torn apart by Charlotte's unthinkable betrayal and the vicious actions of two strangers. Our thoughts are with them as they try to rebuild their lives following this traumatic event."

Listen to Capital's Interview with Notts Police here:

Collinge: Family Statement

Sentencing the trio at Nottingham Crown Court today, Mr Justice Colman Treacy said: ``You, Shreeves, and you, Dale, were responsible for this attack. You, Charlotte Collinge, were not present at the violence but you instigated it.'' He said the two men carried out the brutal attack fuelled by alcohol and illegal drugs, probably not even knowing her husband's name, after going back to the house on the promise of sex.

Mr Treacy said there was a clear intention to kill "born out of the ferocity of the attack'' but that there was little pre-planning involved. He said on her return to the house, Collinge stepped over her dying husband's body to recover her cannabis and laptop. ``He would have lingered, fatally injured, for at least 20 minutes in severe pain, struggling for breath and unable to get help.''

During the trial, the court heard that the couple, who had been together for 17 years in total, had a rocky relationship peppered with break-ups and reconciliations, and divorce had been discussed. The trio stared straight ahead as they were given life sentences by the judge today. 

Speaking outside court to Capital, Cliffords eldest daughter Julie read out a statement on the families behalf. Listen to it here:

Collinge: Nottinghamshire Police