Maureen Rickards, 50, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering her husband, Jeremy Rickards, 65, and hiding his body in their garden. The couple had been married for 27 years. Jeremy’s remains were found on July 11, 2024, at their Canterbury, Kent home, six days after he was reported missing by his daughter.
Rickards was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court, where she was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years. Prosecutors highlighted that Jeremy had suffered from years of abuse at the hands of his wife, which led to the brutal killing. The court heard that he had been stabbed five times in the chest, had injuries to his ribs, and showed signs of strangulation.
Initially, Maureen Rickards claimed that her husband’s injuries were caused by a car accident and later told his daughter that he had taken his own life. However, investigators discovered a more sinister reality. Rickards had recorded herself abusing her husband, even threatening to kill him.
The prosecution described the attack as “ferocious.” After killing him, Rickards hid her husband’s body in a cupboard in her bedroom before moving it to the bottom of the garden, wrapped in bin bags. Neighbors had reported a strange odor coming from the area.
The judge, Mr. Justice Kerr, noted that Rickards’ actions towards her husband were “controlling and coercive,” adding that she intended his death. After the murder, she desecrated his body and showed no remorse.
Detective Inspector Colin McKeen from Kent Police revealed that Rickards had attempted to obstruct the investigation and blamed others, including the victim himself, for his death.
Prosecutor James Fisher noted that Jeremy Rickards had been a victim of an abusive relationship, with a history of physical abuse. Local pub-goers had often noticed bruises on his face, further indicating the long-term abuse he had endured.
The case highlights the underreporting of domestic abuse, particularly male victims, with figures showing that one in three victims of domestic abuse are men.
Rickards’ life sentence serves as a stark reminder that domestic abuse, regardless of the victim’s gender, is a crime that must be taken seriously.
