Wife 'never believed' lover would kill anyone

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

A woman accused of plotting to kill her husband with her lover and another man "never believed" they would kill anyone, a court has heard.

Ethel Mills, 46, known as Michelle, from Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, is accused of conspiring to murder Christopher Mills, with Geraint Berry, 46, from Clydach, Swansea, and Steven Thomas, 47, from Blaengwynfi, Neath Port Talbot. All deny the charges.

Mr Mills was attacked by two masked men with guns, gloves and cable ties at the caravan he shared with his wife in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, in September 2024.

Mrs Mills denied knowing who both men were when they turned up at the caravan on the night of the attack, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The prosecution has claimed Mrs Mills and Mr Berry had been in a secret three-month relationship, during which they shared fantasies about killing her husband.

The jury heard that in her police interview she described the attacker as "possibly 5ft 9ins (1.75m) to 6ft (1.8m) and a slight to medium build".

Jonathan Rees KC, prosecuting, said Mr Berry was "significantly taller" and suggested Ms Mills lied in her interview, which she denied.

The jury also heard that Mrs Mills did not call the police until the men had left.

Giving evidence for the second day at the trial, she responded to this by saying she had been trying to get a signal on her phone.

She was questioned on a text she sent to Mr Berry after the attack which said: "I know who was with you, Chris didn't recognise you."

She told the jury: "I was hoping he would text me back saying that it wasn't them.

"I didn't believe it was them; I didn't want to believe it was them."

"Geraint wouldn't kill anyone," she added.

Mrs Mills denied "feeding Geraint Berry lies" about her husband's behaviour and claims of sexual abuse.

Christopher Mills was attacked at a caravan he shares with his wife in Cenarth, near Newcastle Emlyn, by two masked men with guns, gas masks, gloves and cable ties

Mr Rees told the jury that Mr Berry had told Mrs Mills 16 times over texts that he wanted to kill her husband.

She said she only believed this to be a "fantasy and escape from reality".

She denied being a "highly intelligent person", saying she left school at the age of 11.

While summing up the prosecution's case, Jonathan Rees KC told the jury that Mr Berry had "repeatedly made clear his intention to kill" in text messages that became "increasingly explicit".

He added that Mrs Mills had engaged in "really detailed discussions" about her husband's death.

Although Mr Thomas was described as "vulnerable" and "influenced by Mr Berry", Mr Rees said "all three entered an agreement to kill Christopher Mills".

Speaking for Geraint Berry, defence barrister David Elias KC told the court that Mr Berry had been characterised as "a fantasist".

He argued that the "only plan was to frighten, to scare" Christopher Mills on 20 September 2024.

All three defendants deny conspiracy to murder. Mrs Mills also denies perverting the course of justice by deleting messages and giving police a false account.

The trial continues.