Woman who killed mother-in-law jailed for life
77-year-old Elizabeth Vamplew died in December 2021 at her home in Newark
A woman who murdered her disabled mother-in-law has been handed a life sentence.
Elizabeth Vamplew, who was 77, died from burns and smoke inhalation after a fire at her bungalow in Eton Court, Newark on 15th December 2021.
Her daughter-in-law Karen Vamplew, also known as Karen Degg deliberately set fire to her bed, which prosecutors say was "catastrophic".
The 44-year-old's been found guilty of murder, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.
A courtroom heard Degg had considerable debts, and that the crime was carried out in a bid to obtain inheritance money.
Financial investigations revealed she had access to her victim's account, and had been spending thousands of pounds on herself and her family.
Prosecutor Peter Joyce KC said: “The ready source of cash for the defendant had ceased and she the victim was no longer of use to the defendant; only a burden.
“The defendant did however know that under the terms of the deceased’s will the defendant’s husband stood to inherit half his mother’s estate. The will was later found at her home.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Clare Dean, who oversaw the investigation, said "This is a very sad and tragic case and I am pleased the jury saw through Karen Vamplew’s lies and found her guilty of murder after careful deliberation".
"The simple fact is that she deliberately set a catastrophic and fatal fire knowing full well that Elizabeth was asleep inside the property. It was a brutal and premeditated act borne out of wickedness and greed"
"Today’s sentence brings to an end a long legal ordeal for Elizabeth’s family, but I am acutely aware that it will never ease the pain they feel every day at this terrible loss"