Farmer guilty of murdering missing wife

Published on Friday 5 February 2010 20:59

A WEALTHY landowner is facing a life sentence for the murder of his estranged wife, whose body has never been found.

Retired teacher Kate Prout, 55, vanished from the 1.2 million farm she shared with husband Adrian Prout during acrimonious divorce proceedings. Prout, 47, was yesterday found guilty of her murder at Bristol Crown Court.

Mr Justice Nigel Davis reserved sentencing for Monday – but warned Prout, from Redmarley, Gloucestershire, that he faced mandatory life imprisonment.

Following the verdict, Mrs Prout's family urged her killer to reveal where her body was hidden and end their anguish.

Mrs Prout's brother, Richard Wakefield, who wept as the guilty verdict was read out,

said: "Nothing will bring Kate back to us, but we are pleased that justice has been done."

He added: "We would, however, appeal to Adrian to tell us where she is, because we would like to lay her to rest."