Murder of Anne Searle
2017 murder case in England
In 2017, Stephen Anthony Searle, a UK Independence Party (UKIP) general election candidate and recent member of Suffolk County Council, murdered his wife and told police "I've been a very naughty boy."
Searle fatally asphyxiated his wife, Anne Searle, after she caught him having an affair with their son's girlfriend. He was convicted of her murder in July 2018, jailed for life and must serve 14 years.
He was a UKIP councillor at Suffolk County Council from May 2013 to May 2017 and a general election candidate in June 2017.
Background
Stephen Anthony Searle married Anne Searle in December 1972 and had three sons: Gary, Christopher and Stephen. Stephen, his son Gary and Gary's partner Pomiateeva had all worked together in a bowling alley in Ipswich.
Political career
Stephen Searle, 64, was a UKIP member of Suffolk County Council for Stowmarket South, elected in May 2013. He lost his seat in May 2017 to Conservative council leader Nick Gowrley. He was the UKIP candidate in the 2017 General Election for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and came last of five candidates, receiving 1,635 votes.
Murder
Searle murdered his wife in their house in The Brickfields, Stowmarket, Suffolk shortly before 10.30pm on 30 December 2017.
He told the 999 operator "I've just killed my wife", that this was a "bit of a bizarre situation but you know...
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