'Black widow' told she must serve minimum of 16 years in prison

A woman, nicknamed the Black Widow for murdering one of her husbands at Yapton, has been given a minimum sentence of 16 years.

Dena Thompson's murder of Julian Webb was reviewed at London's High Court this week.

Mr Justice Ouseley said Thompson (pictured left) was a scheming, lying and highly manipulative woman.

'This was a cold and calculated murder, achieved through trickery and without remorse,' he stated. 'There are no mitigating factors. In particular, there was clearly an intent to kill.'

He said he had carefully considered whether to set Thompson's minimum jail term '“ or tariff '“ at 30 years or more after reading a moving statement from Mr Webb's mother, Rosemary.