A shocking murder-for-insurance plot has emerged in Swansea Crown Court. A woman identified as Michelle Mills, 46, is accused of recruiting her ex-Royal Marine lover, Geraint Berry, to kill her husband, Christopher, 48, and cash in his £124,000 life insurance policy.
Prosecutors allege that Michelle, who was having a secret three-month affair with Berry, orchestrated a staged armed break-in at the couple’s holiday caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, as part of the murder plan. The alleged attack took place just one month after Christopher’s life insurance policy took effect.
According to Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC, the affair between the pair had grown increasingly intense, and Michelle repeatedly expressed her desire to have her husband killed so she and Berry could “move forward together.”
“Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry had embarked on a secret sexual relationship which, on Geraint Berry’s part at least, had become increasingly intense,” Rees told the court. “Berry, encouraged on by Michelle Mills, had become increasingly occupied by hostile thoughts about Christopher Mills.”
The court heard that the lovers discussed several possible ways to kill Christopher, including putting ground-up sleeping pills in his drink, smothering him with a pillow, or poisoning him with foxglove or antifreeze. Eventually, they settled on the plan to stage a fake home invasion, during which Berry and an accomplice would kill Christopher.
On September 20, Berry allegedly recruited fellow soldier Steven Thomas, 47, to carry out the attack. Both men armed themselves with guns and masks, but the plan went wrong when Christopher managed to Some, forcing the assailants to flee.
Police later found Berry and Thomas hiding in a bush, and recovered gas masks, cable ties, pliers, cloths, a telescopic gun sight, and even a fake suicide note designed to look as though Christopher had taken his own life.
Text messages between Berry and Mills presented in court revealed the extent of the plot. Berry allegedly messaged her calling her “my queen” and promising to put her husband “in the f***ing ground.” Mills reportedly replied, saying, “I need him gone one way or another.”
After the failed raid, Mills allegedly texted Berry, “Police have been called. Get away. Delete all contact on both phones. I love you.”
When questioned by police, Michelle Mills denied any intent to kill her husband, claiming the plot was merely a “fantasy” she had used to “escape from reality.”
She told officers she “never wanted her husband to be hurt” and insisted that the discussions of murder were “just a fantasy.”
Michelle Mills, along with Berry and Thomas, all deny conspiracy to murder. Mills also faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice for allegedly deleting messages and misleading police.
Berry and Thomas have already pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear, but deny any murder conspiracy.
The dramatic case, which has shocked the Welsh community, continues at Swansea Crown Court, where prosecutors are expected to present further digital evidence and testimony from investigators in the coming days.
