Man found guilty of murdering estranged wife

A WEALTHY landowner was found guilty yesterday of murdering his estranged wife, who has been missing for more than two years.

Retired teacher Kate Prout, 55, vanished from the £1.2 million (€1.37m) farm she shared with her husband Adrian Prout during acrimonious divorce proceedings.

Prout, 47, from Redmarley, Gloucestershire, was found guilty of her murder at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, even though a body has never been found.

Prout, who has become a father with his fiancee Debbie Garlick since his estranged wife’s disappearance, remained motionless when the verdict was read out.

Ms Prout’s family – including her brother, Richard Wakefield – and Ms Garlick burst into tears after the jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to one.

Prout was told by Mr Justice Nigel Davis that he would receive a life sentence but reserved sentencing until Monday.

After the verdict, Mr Wakefield, 59, from Lypiatt, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, appealed to Prout to reveal where he had hidden Ms Prout’s body.

The jury heard Ms Prout confronted her husband with an increased divorce demand the day before she went missing – November 5 2007.

The couple were living in Redhill Farm in Redmarley, a 276-acre property purchased in 2004 for £820,000 and later valued at £1.2m.

Prout offered his wife a settlement of £600,000, but after discussion with accountants she decided to demand £800,000.

Ms Prout left diary accounts of arguments during which Prout threatened to kill her. The jury heard Ms Prout recalled an incident in February 2007 when, according to her, Prout “threatened to kill her” by pushing her in an empty swimming pool at their home.

After a brief attempt at reconciliation, the Prouts decided to proceed with divorce. Prout denied murdering his wife, but conceded there was a risk he would have to sell his “dream” farm to meet her £800,000 divorce demand.