Who is Jeremy Bamber’s ex-girlfriend Julie Mugford and what is she doing now?
JULIE Mugford was Jeremy Bamber's girlfriend at the time of the White House Farm murders which saw Bamber kill his entire family.
She famously supported her twisted boyfriend before changing her story to the police and providing key details that saw him jailed for life.
Who is Jeremy Bamber's ex-girlfriend Julie Mugford?
Julie Mugford was the former girlfriend of Jeremy Bamber, the man who was convicted in 1986 of gunning down June and Nevill as well as his sister Sheila and her six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas at White House Farm in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.
Bamber had tried to blame his mentally ill sister Sheila for the deaths, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Police initially believed him and that Sheila had turned the gun on herself.
At first Mugford showed support for her boyfriend and was seen publicly comforting him at the funeral of his family.
Following a series of arguments, the couple split shortly after.
Mugford then changed her statement to police, telling them that Bamber talked about killing his family.
What did Julie Mugford tell the police about Jeremy Bamber?
Mugford alleged Bamber had frequently talked about wanting to kill his family for more than a year.
She claimed he wished he could “get rid of them all” and inherit the £400,000 family fortune.
Mugford then testified against Bamber at his trial in October 1986.
His defence argued she was lying because Bamber cheated on her and she wanted to stop him from seeing anyone else.
But the judge told the jury they could convict Bamber on her testimony alone.
He was jailed for life without the possibility of parole.
In January 2020, Jeremy and his lawyers suggested new evidence could exonerate him, but he is still serving a life sentence at HM Prison Wakefield in Yorkshire.
Where is Julie Mugford now?
After testifying against Bamber, she left the UK to travel.
In 1990, while in Australia, she met Canadian Glen Smerchanski and they married and moved to Canada where she is now known as Julie Smerchanski
After settling in Winnipeg, she became a teacher.
She worked as a vice-principal at a primary school before taking on a management role in the Winnipeg Schools Division.
She is portrayed by Raised By Wolves star Alexa Davies in ITV's White House Farm, which explores one of Britain's most shocking crimes.