Police have released CCTV images showing Darren Byrne walking his dog, moments after he murdered his wife at their home in Theydon Bois.

Image source, Essex Police

Chelmsford Crown Court heard she had been hit on the head by Byrne after finding out he had been having an affair.  

The 40-year-old, who had denied the charges against him, had doused his wife's body with white spirit and had turned on the hob before going on an hour-long dog walk.  

Image source, Essex Police

Returning to find his plan had not worked, he concocted a charade, the jury was told.

Image source, Essex Police

He called the emergency services to say his wife was "burned" and told the operator: "The stove was on and the frying pan's on the other side of the room. She's not breathing."

Byrne will be sentenced on Thursday.

Maria Byrne's mother, Linda Biggs, described the killing of her daughter as "beyond any human comprehension". 

"Eight years ago we entrusted Maria, the most precious thing we had to Darren Byrne," she said.

"We loved him and treated him like our own son. 

"This person, instead of loving and protecting her, took her life in the most degrading way."

Essex Police says Darren Byrne, who was today found guilty of murdering his wife and then setting her body alight, was motivated by his own selfishness and anger. 

Image source, Essex Police

Speaking after the verdict, Ch Insp Stephen Jennings said: "Byrne brutally killed his wife before dousing her in white spirit and turning the gas on in the kitchen to cover up what he had done.

"Two young children have been robbed of their mother by their own father and my thoughts are very much with them and Maria’s family as they continue to come to terms with their loss.

"Byrne has not shown any remorse and will now have to live with the consequences of what he has done and the devastating impact of his actions."

A husband who hit his wife over the head before dousing her body in white spirit and turning on a gas hob is found guilty of murder and arson.

BBC Sport

Essex batsman Alastair Cook says he has "questions" about his role as England Test captain, after admitting Joe Root is "ready" to be his successor.

Cook, skipper since 2012, watched as England lost four wickets for 13 runs on Monday to slump to an innings defeat and series loss against India.

The opener will discuss his role with director of cricket Andrew Strauss.

Six people are arrested on suspicion of disorder offences at a travellers' site in Ipswich.

Darren Byrne murdered his wife after a row broke out when she found out earlier that morning that he'd been having an affair with a married woman, Chelmsford Crown Court was told. 

The former city trader was found guilty of murder and arson earlier today. 

The court was told that after dousing his wife's body with the flammable liquid he went on a walk with the family dog. 

CCTV footage showed he was away for more than an hour.  

Police are investigating possible links between two incidents of a girl and a woman being sexually assaulted over the last few months in Colchester town centre.

Image source, Essex Police

Last month, a 17-year-old girl was groped by a man when she was on a bus, then two weeks later a 26-year-old woman was subjected to a similar assault by a man in Magdalen Street. 

The suspect is described as being 5ft 5in tall and with strawberry blond hair.

Leigh Milner
BBC Look East

Counterfeit goods worth £500,000 have been seized at Stansted Airport in the lead up to Christmas. 

They include unofficial Pokemon and Nintendo cuddly toys, Burberry scarves and Nike trainers.

Upon today's verdict at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Charles Gratwicke told Darren Byrne he should expect an exceedingly long sentence. 

"You have been convicted of what can only be described as a wicked and heinous crime," he said.

A jury has found a 40-year-old man guilty of murdering his wife at their home in Theydon Bois near Epping.

Darren Byrne killed Maria Byrne, 35, and then took their dog out for a walk while he hoped their house would burn down with her inside, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

The jury was told he doused his unconscious wife in white spirit and turned on the hob before going out.

Byrne had denied murder and arson, but was found guilty of both counts.

He'll be sentenced on Thursday. 

A 40-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his wife at their home in Theydon Bois in February.

More follows.

Share prices at Essex imaging sensor maker e2v Technologies, external have rocketed by 47% on news that US firm Teledyne Technologies has agreed to buy the company in a deal worth £619.6m.

The company, based in Chelmsford, has been offered an all-cash deal at 275p per share. 

The executive boards of both companies have agreed to the deal. 

e2v is now urging shareholders to vote in favour of the takeover.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

A man has praised Royal Mail for delivering a Christmas card to him and his wife, which just had the address "Tony and Sarah Wren, Somewhere near the sea in Suffolk".

He added that he "just desperately want to know how they did it".

Image source, Antony Wren

Antony Wren, who lives in Lowestoft, told us: "We moved up here from south Essex.

"I wouldn't say it was a rushed decision but it was quite quick.

"Family and closest friends got told as soon as we knew where we were heading but then it came to the first Christmas and the only way of telling anyone where we lived was on a Christmas card. 

"What do people do with Christmas cards?They recycle them, and obviously these people knew that we had moved but had no idea where to."

BBC Weather

The cloud will continue to thicken, with outbreaks of mostly light rain spreading north-eastwards through the afternoon. 

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

Popping out? Get the local forecast from BBC Weather.

Nine possible options for a new stretch of the A120 have been released ahead of a public consultation.

Image source, Essex County Council

The options, which run from Braintree to the A12 near Colchester, are being considered by Essex County Council before the consultation opens in January. 

Kevin Bentley, the council's deputy leader, said: "A modern A120 will not only help journey times, it will also help grow local businesses not just in Essex but across East Anglia.

"It is vital we get this right so we can continue to grow the local economy and prove Essex means business."

View the plans here, external. 

Here are the top stories from Essex Live so far today:

• A jury is continuing to consider its verdict in the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife in Theydon Bois
• A shopkeeper fought off a robber in Witham last night by spraying red dye in his face, police say  
• England's most capped footballer, legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton, tied the knot on Mersea Island at the weekend  

The hearing for a man accused of attempting to rob West Ham footballer Andy Carroll has been adjourned.

Image source, PA

Jack O'Brien, 21, of Navarre Gardens in Romford, east London, was due to appear by video link at Basildon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing. 

He is charged with attempting to steal the striker's wrist watch, plus 10 counts of burglary, four counts of attempted burglary and one count of handling stolen goods.

Max Hardy, for the defence, requested that he appear alongside another man who is charged with one count of burglary. 

The case was adjourned until Friday, 16 December when both defendants will appear.  

Work to protect over six miles of underground sewer pipes in Southend has begun.

Image source, Anglian Water

The pipes will be relined with a resin which is designed to last over 50 years, Anglian Water says. 

The investment, costing £2m will be on-going throughout Leigh-on-Sea and Southend-on-Sea next year.

A new campaign asking domestic abusers to reflect and change their behaviour has been launched by police in Essex. 

The force says it sees a rise in the number of domestic abuse incidents over the Christmas period - with the highest daily number reported on New Year's Day in the past two years. 

The campaign will feature in GP surgeries, hospitals, universities, colleges and pubs across Essex. 

Image source, Essex Police

Image source, Essex Police

Image source, Essex Police

Image source, Essex Police