Trio guilty of murder

10/07/2008

Today, at Stafford Crown Court, Thelma Purchase, 43, her son Lance Rudge, 20, and Shane Edge, 20, were found guilty of the murder of Gregory Baker, 61, on 16 June 2007, at his home in Alton.

Purchase used to be Mr Baker's carer and continued a friendship with him after she left. Purchase knew she would benefit after Mr Baker's death as she was named one of the major beneficiaries in his will, standing to gain almost £60,000.

Rudge recruited and encouraged his friend Edge to carry out the killing. He was driven by Purchase to Mr Baker's address, which was easily accessible due to his carers regularly needing to gain access, and suffocated him with his pillow.

Purchase was also found guilty of soliciting to murder and perverting the course of justice when she tried to arrange the murder of her ex-partner.

Speaking after today's verdict, Heather Chamberlin, for CPS Staffordshire said: "This case, as Christopher Hotten QC said, was the story of a woman, who not for the first time, would not wait. She enmeshed her own son and his friend in her wicked plan to rob and kill a helpless man who had befriended her.
"The successful outcome is the result of the courage of the witnesses who came forward and a good prosecution team."