‘Spy novel plans for perfect murder of Sadie Hartley detailed over 17 months by accused killer’s accomplice’
JOURNAL documents murderous scheme to 'off' jealous woman's love rival, jury told
A PLOT to murder a jealous woman's love rival was detailed in her accomplice's diary over 17 months, a court heard.
Sarah Williams, 35, and best pal Katrina Walsh, 56, are said to have meticulously planned how to "off" Sadie Hartley in a plot described as “the stuff of spy novels”.
A murder trial jury was told how the pair watched Channel 4 reality show Hunted, in which contestants try to evade intelligence officers, as they hatched plans for the "perfect murder".
"Obsessed" Williams is said to have wanted 60-year-old Sadie out of the way after she began a relationship with her ex-lover Ian Johnston, 57.
Walsh's diary documented how she the two women discussed "how to break Ian up from his sugar mummy" before turning to their deadly scheme, the court heard.
The journal reveals she intended to teach Williams to ride a motorbike for an aborted plot to run the victim over, and they tried to enlist Walsh's ex-husband Kevin to act as "hitman", it is alleged.
When that failed they chose and bought the murder weapons, including a trip to Germany to buy a cattle prod to incapacitate the victim, and planned to leave an ISIS flag at the scene to throw cops off the scent, jurors heard.
John McDermott QC, prosecuting, said Walsh kept "a remarkable, compelling record" of the plot in a journal that was later seized by detectives.
September 2014
Walsh wrote in her diary: "Sarah came round. Got caught up in endless murder plots for Ian's other half."
June 2015
"We're also seriously talking of getting rid of her opponent. I agree is probably a good play... she does seem to be a totally evil bitch."
August 2015
"Wow, I may get to be instrumental in helping remove the awful woman! This may happen. Wow! Am unexpectedly excited by it. Was so buzzing so much I needed a Southern Comfort to wind down a bit."
After Walsh's ex-husband declined to get involved in anything "dodgy" she wrote: "Kev not going for the idea of being a hitman after all, scuppered that idea. Plan B will be needed."
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In the same entry she went on: "We could plot to take the bint out as Kev was a bust on it. I'm going to be involved now, heaven help me!"
Adding she had no trouble sleeping, she wrote: "I have no moral qualms, just a serious don't let us get caught twinge. Was off just fine despite being away in all the buzz."
September 2015
Walsh referred in her diary to thoughts of "a hit on a motorcycle", hoping to make Sadie's death look like an accident.
She wrote: "Fortunately Sarah's had an idea that would spare me the anxiety as she things (sic) of just riding on a motorcycle, killing and leaving said floosie and riding off. I just have to clandestinely train Sarah to ride a bike and store said bike."
She also wrote of using an ISIS flag "to mislead the investigation too, I'm much more into that."
Walsh later added: "Sarah turned up. Caught Hunted. Then discussed the plans to off the ****."
October 2015
Walsh described plans to "off the bitch" and travel to Germany to buy a stun gun.
She added: "Just buzzing too much over the end of Hunted and all the planning. Sarah has ordered a GPS tracker on my credit card to be delivered here and will give me cash for it. That's fine as I'm not going to be involved at the sharp end."
December 2015
After Williams allegedly fitted the GPS device to Mr Johnston's car, Walsh wrote: "Sarah called in bouncing."
That month the pair took a ferry from Hull to Rotterdam and then to Darmstadt, Germany, where they bought a stun gun.
Shortly before the trip Walsh wrote: "I’ll help out happily in all the prep. I said no matter what her way of testing the bitch, then she could do with that zapper or she risks being injured herself. So will get a trip to Germany out of this. Took ages to wind down, all the excitement of plotting the perfect murder!"
A blue Renault Clio was bought a month later for £430 in cash while Walsh used her Tesco Club Card to purchase the large kitchen knife used in the killing, jurors heard.
Williams was also caught on CCTV buying size ten boots in the hope the large bloody footprints left at the scene would throw police off the scent, it is alleged.
Preston crown court heard businesswoman Sadie was zapped in the head with the stun gun and knifed 40 times with "demonic savagery" on the doorstep of her £500,000 home in Helmshore, Lancs, on January 14.
Mr McDermott said: “It was a premeditated, planned assassination of an innocent woman. Katrina Walsh helped her every step of the way and was up to her neck in this dreadful crime.
“A more cold-blooded plan you cannot imagine. It is chilling to realise that two women could become such determined killers.”
Despite believing they were carrying out the "perfect murder", police were able to track and trace the defendants' movements via the tracking device, mobile phones and car number plate monitoring, and also caught Williams on camera at the crime scene, it is alleged.
Williams and Walsh, both of Chester, deny murder. The trial continues.