Solicitor given life term for arranging contract killing

Vina Patel, 51, was found dead in her office in Cort and Co solicitors in Blackbird Road, Leicester, on January 15 last year.

John Cort, 54, of Rutland Street, Leicester, and Brian Farrell, 37, of Queensborough Terrace, west London, were found guilty of murdering Mrs Patel and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Setting a minimum term of 29 years for Cort and 28 years for Farrell, Mrs Justice Linda Dobbs told them the murder was premeditated and ruthless.

During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, the court heard that debt-ridden Cort hired Farrell to commit the murder in a "contract killing" that would lead to a huge life assurance payout.

Farrell and Cort remained emotionless as the unanimous verdicts were given, while there were whispers of "yes" from Mrs Patel's family in the public gallery.

The judge told Cort and Farrell: "You deprived the family and friends of Vina Patel of a cherished person."

She quoted from a statement from the solicitor's widower Surendra Patel – which was not read to the court – saying that since her murder the family had been dogged by "torment, depression and paranoia".

Mrs Justice Dobbs said: "That you, Mr Cort, were able to have murdered a close friend of 30 years, erstwhile lover of 20 years and partner prepared to help you with your divorce, reveals your true character. You are a controlling person who will stop at nothing to achieve your aims. You were the driving force behind the murder."

Farrell was accused of following where Cort led. She told the men they would serve life in prison.

Mrs Patel was found dead at the foot of a staircase in the offices of Cort and Co by her husband and daughter. The 51-year-old mother of two had a broken neck.

A swab of her right hand showed a mixed profile including her DNA, with the remaining DNA a "billion times more likely to have come from Brian Farrell than from someone unrelated", the court heard.

The court heard that divorcee Cort "lived a life he simply could not afford" and had spiralled into 171,000 debt.

He had been involved in a 20 year affair with Mrs Patel but that broke down because he had other girlfriends.

Weeks before Mrs Patel's death he persuaded her they should increase their life assurance from 500,000 to 1.5m.