An American millionaire who killed his wife in a ferocious and sustained knife attack outside their luxury home in Worcestershire has been jailed for at least 16 years.

Harold Landry, aged 65, was found guilty of murdering his wife Lucy by a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday.

Jailing the retired engineer for life, Mr Justice Foskett said the attack on Mrs Landry at their home near Pershore had been "unspeakable and unforgivable".

After the jury's verdict, it was revealed that Landry, who is originally from Louisiana and made his fortune designing cranes for oil rigs, had previously been convicted of aggravated battery but cleared of attempted murder after gunning down a love rival in Louisiana in October 1994.

It also emerged that he was given a suspended sentence for the earlier crime, which saw him use a handgun to shoot the husband of a married woman with whom he had formed a relationship.

Landry, stood with his hands behind his back and showed no sign of emotion as the judge told him he would only be given parole if the authorities ruled that he no longer posed a threat to the public.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Foskett said jurors had quite rightly rejected Landry's claim that he was guilty only of manslaughter because his wife had provoked him.

The judge also criticised Landry for claiming during his trial that his wife had threatened him with a knife shortly before he chased her from their home on the upmarket Besford Court estate. The claim had "all the hallmarks" of a story dreamt up after the event to try to establish a defence case, the judge added.

Describing the murder itself as brutal and vicious, Mr Justice Foskett pointed out that most of the 23 stab wounds suffered by Mrs Landry had been inflicted as she was lying on the ground attempting to protect herself.

The jury of eight women and four men heard that Mrs Landry - who met her husband in an internet chatroom - was left to die in a hedge near her marital home late on February 1 last year.


In a statement issued by West Mercia Police on Thursday, Mrs Landry's family described the 38-year-old as a "bright, beautiful, bubbly person" who was much loved.

The relatives' statement read: "To have her taken away from us in this way has caused devastation to us all. We are relieved with the verdict.

"It has been an extremely traumatic year for everyone but finally, justice has been done for Lucy. We thank everyone involved who has helped achieve this."

Landry told his murder trial he could not remember inflicting 23 stab wounds on his wife. A jury of eight women and four men heard that Mrs Landry - who met her husband on an internet chatsite - was left to die in a hedge beside her three-storey home on the upmarket Besford Court estate late on February 1 last year.

Landry did not dispute that he had killed his 38-year-old wife, but claimed he was guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter by reason of provocation.

The trial was told Mrs Landry had begun an affair with a school friend she had resumed contact with on Facebook as her marriage to Landry "soured".

Speaking after the trial, Detective Sergeant Natalie Jones, of West Mercia Police, said: "Lucy was not the only victim of this crime. Her family are also victims who suffered and are still suffering now.

"Our thoughts are with them at this time as they have just had to endure a harrowing trial. However, we hope that today's result can offer some comfort and closure to them and justice for Lucy."