Wife and lover discussed poisoning husband with antifreeze in gravy, court hears

Christopher Mills (pictured) was attacked by two masked men in his caravan in September 2024

A woman and her lover texted one another about poisoning her husband with "antifreeze in his gravy", a jury has heard.

Ethel Mills, known as Michelle, 46, from Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, denies conspiring to murder former soldier Christopher Mills, with ex-marine Geraint Berry, 46, from Swansea, and Steven Thomas, 47, from Blaengwynfi, Neath Port Talbot.

Mr Mills was attacked at the couple's caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, on 20 September 2024 by two masked men with guns, gas masks, gloves and cable ties.

Texts from Mr Berry read to the court said he wanted to kill Mr Mills and he could "pay someone" to do it.

In Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, the jury was read texts that revealed "the extent of the personal and sexual relationship" between Mrs Mills and Mr Berry, according to prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC.

Messages revealed the start of their affair in 2024 with texts becoming "increasingly more explicit" according to the prosecution.

In a text from Mr Berry to Mrs Mills he said: "I love you a lot and I hate how he treats you."

Other texts from Mr Berry said Mr Mills "should just die" and: "I'm going to hurt him so badly cause he's acting like a kid."

Mr Berry also said he would "do time" for Mrs Mills.

He added: "All you need to do is to say OK and it will be done."

He could "pay someone" to give Chris a visit, he said.

Messages from Mrs Mills said: "He's [Christopher Mills] been checking my pockets without my knowledge, I let him check my phone.

"He's banging on that I have a man in Scotland. I need him gone one way or another," she added.

In one message Mr Berry told Mrs Mills to crush up sleeping pills and put them in Mr Mills' drink and referred to putting "antifreeze in his gravy".

'Make sure he's died'

Texts from Mr Berry read: "Well I can poison him or arrange someone to shoot him, and I'm not joking babe."

Mrs Mills responded: "I don't want you or me getting in trouble."

Mr Berry said they should "kill him together" and that if Mrs Mills got the "urge to smother him" she should "make sure he's died".

The court heard messages from Mrs Mills, in which she claimed Christopher Mills tried to have sex with her without her consent, calling him "a bit gropey".

Mr Berry responded that he would kill him, saying: "I've spoken with some boys and they are waiting on my word when to deal with him."

The jury was shown more than 100 pages of texts between Mrs Mills and Mr Berry.

Mr Berry sat with his head in his hands in the dock while Mrs Mills remained emotionless.

Mr Berry told Mrs Mills multiple times to put sleeping pills in Christopher Mills' drink.

He said in one: "We will watch him die and then come home and chill for the rest of the weekend together and just wait for someone to find him."

In another: "I am going to get rid of him [Mr Mills] 'cause everyday he's alive the more I want to end him for good cause you are my property."

'Do you know how to make a Mini go boom?'

And: "I swear on my mum he will be gone forever".

The day before the attack Mr Berry texted: "Just found out he is going to [be] there tomorrow night but he will be going home at the weekend so we will do it tomorrow evening but I need to do it for defo cause I'm not happy cause he needs to be gone OK."

The morning of 20 September Mr Thomas messaged: "We are 100% going tonight brother got my kit ready go... got a few extra's might be handy too."

The jury heard a message from Mr Berry sent to someone named Paul Kershaw requesting three bullets and a gun: "I need to get rid of someone cause they have done something to my family.

"Or do you know how to make a Mini Cooper S go boom when they start their car? I'm not joking."

The day of the attack Mr Berry texted: "I'll kill him cause he isn't to touch you cause you're my queen."

Mrs Mills replied: "I am encouraging him to drink, so hopefully, he will be asleep before long."

The last messages from Mrs Mills before the assault said: "Sorry u know what ur doing, and I trust you."

Mr Berry answered: "We are here."

Mrs Mills final message after the attack said: "Police have been called, delete all communications, I love you...

"Chris did not recognise you or the other one, I won't say anything."

The jury was read a transcript of Mrs Mills' police interview at Haverfordwest Police Station.

She told officers she believed the plot was a "fantasy", adding: "I never actually expected it to happen."

The plan was to "frighten Christopher and make it look like a suicide", she told detectives, adding that Mr Berry had promised to send Mr Mills £150,000 to pay for her divorce.

"I never wanted my husband to be hurt," she said.

"The fantasy was just something I could escape from. Nothing that he (Berry) says comes across as real."

The jury heard she had denied going along with the plans and that she told police Mr Berry had post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and psychosis.

The case continues.