Who is Paul Cryne, is Sharon Birchwood’s killer still in jail and how did Graham Birchwood hire the hitman?
SHARON Birchwood's body was found at her home in a quiet Surrey village.
The 52-year-old woman, who suffered from ME and was registered disabled, had been trussed up with parcel tape and strangled.
Who is Paul Cryne?
A former business associate of her husband Graham Birchwood.
He was a former bodyguard originally from Manchester.
But he blew a fortune on a flamboyant lifestyle in Thailand and was in need of money.
He was paid £30,000 by Graham Birchwood to murder Sharon at her bungalow in Ashstead, Surrey, in December 2007.
Cryne flew from Thailand on November 26, staying with Birchwood's mother in Banstead.
Prosecutors in the case said a plan was hatched between the two to secure Sharon's "pot of gold".
Her ex-husband Graham stood to gain £475,000 on her death,
Cryne's final call to Birchwood was on December 4 saying "the fatal deed had been done".
But DNA traces from Sharon's right hand on the roll tape used to bind her were recovered and matched with the DNA of Cryne.
Cryne, 62, was jailed for life after he was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey.
Judge Jeremy Roberts said he must serve at least 28-and-a-half years in prison.
He said: "You may well spend the rest of your life behind bars. If you do, I am afraid that will be the consequences of your own actions."
Cryne moved to Pattaya in Thailand in the 1990s after receiving a £500,000 payout after a boat accident in the Maldives.
Is Sharon Birchwood's killer still in prison?
Yes. He was convicted in August 2010.
He was told when he was sentenced that he would serve a minimum of 28 years and six months in jail before he could be considered for parole.
Cryne, who had denied murder, was extradited from Thailand to face trial at the Old Bailey.
He lost an appeal in November 2011.
How did Graham Birchwood hire the hitman?
Cryne had spent the £500,000 awarded in the payout and had gathered up debts of £11,000.
He met Graham Birchwood through the expatriate community in Thailand.
Cryne was paid £30,000 for killing Sharon.
Sharon was strangled and left on her bed "cruelly trussed-up" with parcel tape and electrical cord, the Old Bailey heard.
Cryne left few clues and flew back to Bangkok three hours after the killing.
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The judge said: "You allowed yourself to become an instrument of his betrayal of her. You were in this together – he as the organiser and you as the hired killer."
Detective Chief Inspector Maria Woodall said: "Birchwood made the callous decision that his ex-wife must die and then set about a ruthless plot which he hoped would distance himself from this evil crime.
"He involved Cryne as part of this devious plan."