Devon Builder Guilty of Double Murder, Jailed for 30 Years

A domineering builder from Devon has been found guilty of the double murder of his estranged wife and her friend.

41 year Neil Langmead carried out a frenzied sex attack on both Deborah Langmead and Donna St John and will serve at least 30 years behind bars.

The two women, both aged 35 and mothers of two children were found soaked in blood side by side in the kitchen of a burning house in Barnstaple last August.

A jury of nine men and four women took 13 days to reject Langmeads version of events.

Exeter Crown Court heard that Langmead had a history of bullying behaviour towards his wife Deborah and he had even been issued with a warning by police for harrassing her, just a week before the murders took place.

It's thought Langmead was unable to except his wife had started divorce proceedings but he told the court he killed Deborah in self-defence and that she killed her friend.

Both women were found stabbed to death.