Former Ukip councillor found guilty of murdering his wife

Ex-Marine wished 999 call handler 'Happy New Year' an hour after killing partner of 45 years

A former Ukip councillor, who murdered his wife during a row over an affair he had with their son’s partner, is facing a life prison sentence.

Stephen Searle claimed he had been defending himself after his wife, Anne, 62, attacked him with a knife at their home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, last year.

However, a jury took three-and-a-half hours to find the ex-Royal Marine guilty of murder at Ipswich Crown Court.

The court heard how the Searle’s marriage had been under strain since his wife had discovered he was having an affair with their son Gary’s partner, Anastasia Pomiateeva, in July 2017.

This culminated in an argument on 30 December last year, in which Searle likely used his military training to place his wife in a fatal choke hold, prosecutor Andrew Jackson told jurors.

A recording of the 64-year-old’s chilling 999 call, thought to have been made around an hour after Mrs Searle’s death, was played in court.

“I’ve just killed my wife,” Searle told the operator: “bit different for you tonight I expect. Happy New Year.”

When asked by the call handler how he had killed his wife, Searle said: “suffocation really, I guess. Bit of a bizarre situation really but, you know, nevermind.”

Officers attended their home within minutes of the call and found Mrs Searle dead.

He had been married to his wife for 45 years and they had three sons together.

A victim statement from one of their children, also named Stephen, said: “This year not only have I lost my mum but my dad as well. Now all I want to focus on is my family and friends who can help me through this year and more to come.

“The part that hurts me the most is I lost my mum but the person who took my mum away was also my best friend, who was my dad.”

Searle had served as a Ukip councillor for Stowmarket South on Suffolk County Council between 2013 and 2017 and had also been an unsuccessful candidate in the 2017 general election.

“Anne Searle’s death was a tragic crime and our sympathies remain with her family and friends,” Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger, of Suffolk Constabulary, said following the verdict.

“Whilst crimes of this severity remain a rare occurrence in Suffolk the community can take reassurance that the man responsible has been brought to justice for his actions.”

Searle is to be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

Additional reporting by PA