Canterbury Woman Found Guilty of Murdering Husband and Burying Him in Garden
Maureen Rickards Convicted at Canterbury Crown Court
Maureen Rickards, 47, has been found guilty of murdering her husband, Jeremy Rickards, after hiding his body in their Canterbury garden. The verdict was handed down on March 13, 2025, at Canterbury Crown Court. Sentencing is expected next month.
Police Unearth Chilling Crime After Husband Reported Missing
Police launched a probe after Jeremy was reported missing by a family member on July 5, 2024. Maureen initially told cops Jeremy had moved to Saudi Arabia for work and died abroad. But detectives quickly uncovered there was no evidence he left the UK.
A search of their home on July 11 revealed Jeremy’s body buried in the garden. He had five fatal stab wounds to the chest and signs of previous abuse.
Evidence Shows Maureen Tried to Cover Up Crime
- Maureen used Jeremy’s bank cards between June 20 and June 30, landing her in hot water for fraud.
- Police found video on her phone of her abusing Jeremy shortly before his death.
Detective Inspector Brian Morley said: “Sadly, evidence shows Maureen Rickards repeatedly abused her husband prior to the fatal attack. She displayed no remorse throughout our investigation and sought to mislead investigators at every opportunity.”
Police Urge Abuse Victims to Speak Out
Morley added: “We encourage anyone experiencing abuse at the hands of a partner to seek support immediately. kent.police.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police will always support victims and bring offenders to justice.
Jeremy Rickards’ family continues to receive support from specialist officers.
