'Wife conspired with former soldiers to murder husband'

A WIFE, her ex-Marine lover and another soldier hatched a plan to murder the woman's husband, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS

Two masked men armed with imitation guns burst into the caravan where the couple were staying and attacked the husband in what the prosecution say was a staged invasion as part of the plot to kill the victim.

The intruders were disarmed and driven off by the intended target, himself a former soldier who now works for the Help For Heroes veterans charity, and the police were alerted.

Michelle Mills and former soldiers Geraint Berry and Steven Thomas are accused of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills, an allegation they deny. Mills is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice, a count she denies. The trio are on trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Jonathan Rees KC, opening the case for the prosecution, said that just after 11.30pm on the night of September 20 last year Mr and Mrs Mills were in the lounge of their caravan on a caravan park in Cenarth near Newcastle Emlyn when there was a knock at the door.

He said Mr Mills answered the door to find two masked and gloved men carrying guns who then burst inside.

The court heard Mr Mills was struck to the face with one of the guns and then had the weapon pointed at him but was able to punch the man pointing the handgun and to disarm him.

The prosecutor said Christopher Mills ended up grappling with the two intruders, with the shorter of the two masked men kicking and punching him.

He said Mr Mills disarmed the second intruder and that during the course of the struggle was able to pull off the balaclava of one of the men but could not see his face due to the position he was in.