Jealous killer's husband told to leave the Army

Major Anthony Dryland, whose mistress was killed by his jealous wife, has been told to leave the army, the Ministry of Defence said last night.

The decision by the Army Board comes nearly 10 months after his wife, Christine, 43, was sent for psychiatric treatment as part of a probation order by a court martial in Germany. She had admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility after killing her husband's German mistress, Marika Sparfeldt, 34, by running her over.

An MoD spokesman last night said: 'Major Dryland has been required to resign his commission for misconduct by the Army Board.' He has a month in which to resign or appeal to the Queen. The spokesman said he could not discuss the nature of the misconduct, or the reason why the board had reached its decision.

Major Dryland, with 28 years' service, has been on sick leave in Germany - he is based at Soltau - since the killing. He is understood to have resisted pressure to resign, saying he had broken no military laws.