Meleri WilliamsBBC Wales, Swansea Crown Court
A woman and her ex-marines secret lover have been found guilty of plotting to kill her husband.
Christopher Mills was attacked by two masked men with guns, gloves and cable ties at the caravan he shared with his wife in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, in September 2024.
Ethel Mills, 46, known as Michelle, from Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, conspired with lover Geraint Berry, 46, from Clydach, Swansea, who was also found guilty.
Steven Thomas, 47, from Blaengwynfi, Neath Port Talbot, was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder, but had previously admitted possessing an imitation firearm. The three * will be sentenced on 19 December.
Mrs Mills met Berry while she was south Wales manager of Alabaré homeless charity for veterans – the same way as she had met Thomas – at a block of flats in Clydach, Swansea. Both men lived there.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, the jury heard about text messages exchanged between Mrs Mills and Berry – who worked together and had been having an affair for three * months.
In one message, Berry mentioned putting sleeping tablets in Mr Mills' drink. Asked why she had not rebuffed her lover's suggestion, Michelle Mills told police she “did not want to lose him”.
Jonathan Rees KC, prosecuting, told the jury during the trial that Berry had told Michelle Mills 16 times over texts that he wanted to kill her husband.
She said she only believed this to be purely a “fantasy” and an “escape from reality”.
She had also claimed to police officers that her husband was “abusive” and “controlling”.
Mills denied being a “highly intelligent person”, saying she left school at the age of 11.
She was also found guilty of perverting course of justice by the jury on Tuesday.
