Man who hid wife's body in tank died of pneumonia

David Venables killed his wife Brenda after rekindling an affair with another woman

A retired farmer who murdered his wife and hid her remains in a septic tank, died as a result of pneumonia, an inquest has heard.

David Venables, 92, was found guilty of murder in July 2022 after Brenda Venables' remains were found inside the tank on the couple's farm in Worcestershire.

In March, the Prison Service confirmed Venables, who was serving a life sentence, had died on 16 December.

Venables, from Kempsey, had been 89 when he was jailed, following a near 40-year mystery over the disappearance of his wife, who he had reported missing in 1982.

Shropshire assistant coroner Heath Westerman said Venables died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital "as the result of pneumonia" and contributing to his death was the "natural progression of urothelial cancer, obstructive uropathy and type two diabetes."

The coroner said he was satisfied it was a "natural cause of death".

Brenda Venables was reported missing on 4 May 1982

Venables was jailed for at least 18 years for murder in 2022.

He had denied killing his wife between 2 and 5 May 1982, and had claimed serial killer Fred West might have been responsible in police interviews.

During a trial at Worcester Crown Court, it was revealed that Venables had killed his wife after restarting a longstanding affair with another woman.

A police investigation was launched after Mrs Venables was reported missing on 4 May 1982, but her remains were not found inside the septic tank until July 2019.

At Shrewsbury Coroners' Court on Thursday, Mr Westerman said Venables was at HMP Stoke Heath at the time of his death, following a transfer from HMP Hewell in January 2023.

He was known to have "significant health problems" and had recently been diagnosed with urothelial cancer, following surgery.

In April 2024, he was treated in hospital after blood in his urine was discovered, with further scans in May revealing an "abnormal growth in his right kidney".

The coroner said he became frail as the natural disease progressed, and he was admitted to hospital with an upper-gastrointestinal bleed on 29 November.

He added Venables condition had stabilised but he continued to deteriorate and was later found to have pneumonia, remaining bedbound due to general weakness and muscle atrophy.

A palliative care approach began on 11 December until he died five days later.