Woman guilty of murdering mother-in-law in fire for inheritance

Elizabeth Vamplew's family said she was "greatly missed"

A woman has been convicted of murdering her disabled mother-in-law to try to get inheritance money.

Elizabeth Vamplew, 77, died from burns and smoke inhalation after she was rescued from her bungalow in Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 15 December 2021.

Karen Vamplew, 44, was accused of setting fire to her mother-in-law's bed while she slept.

She denied murder but was convicted on Friday after a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Judge Timothy Spencer said Vamplew would be sentenced on Monday.

There were audible gasps in the courtroom when the guilty verdict was delivered.

The judge paid tribute to the victim's family, who have attended the hearing.

He said: "This is one of the most distressing cases it is possible to imagine. You have conducted yourselves with dignity.

"It cannot have been easy for anybody."

'A charade'

Prosecutors said Vamplew had been in debt and had been using her mother-in-law's bank account to fund her lifestyle.

The day before the fire, the pair were seen in a Santander bank after a £5 limit had been placed on the account, the court was told.

The defendant was seen on CCTV leaving her home in King Street, Newark, at about 00:35 GMT on the day of the fire.

She was seen parking nearby, but not outside her mother-in-law's home, wearing a hoodie.

Returning 30 minutes later, Vamplew was seen on CCTV running to her car at 01:13 before heading home, the jury heard.

Four minutes after returning home, she again got into her car and drove back to the Eton Court area before reporting the fire at 01:25, the court heard.

Vamplew told police she had become anxious when Elizabeth, known as and referred to in court as Anne, did not call her that night as she normally did.

She said she had gone to check on Anne, who used a wheelchair and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but had forgotten the keys to the bungalow and returned to her own home to get them.

She claimed she had arrived back at the bungalow to find it ablaze and heard Anne screaming inside.

She said she broke in to try to help her but was forced back by heavy smoke.

The prosecution said her story was "a charade".

The fire took place at a property in Eton Court, Newark, in December 2021

Following the verdict, Anne's family paid tribute to her in a statement, released by Nottinghamshire Police.

They described her as "a devoted mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend to many", adding: "Anne was happiest when time was spent with her three granddaughters.

"She was immensely proud of them all.

"Anne loved her holidays and adored cruising. She would cruise at least twice a year with family and friends.

"She made many friends on these holidays as she loved to chat and get to know people.

"She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends."