BRITAIN'S first woman contract killer was jailed for life at the Old
Bailey yesterday for shooting roofing contractor Graeme Woodhatch while
he was a patient in hospital.
''The obvious motive was payment of money and the act was carried out
in cold blood,'' the Recorder of London, Sir Lawrence Verney, told Te
Rangimaria Ngarimu, a 29-year-old New Zealander. The judge said he would
normally make a recommendation that ''someone employed to kill'' should
serve a minimum sentence in excess of 20 years.
However, because she had given evidence against two men who were
behind the murder, he would not do so.The two -- Deith Bridges and Paul
Tubbs -- were both jailed for life last week for conspiring to murder Mr
Graeme Woodhatch.
Ngarimu was promised #7000 by Bridges. She was said to be infatuated
and emotionally involved with him in a ''brother and sister''
relationship. However, he was the stronger character, the court heard.
She also wanted to buy a mobile home in her native country.
Bridges told her that two shots in the head and two in the chest would
ensure Mr Woodhatch's death.
Disguised as a man and carrying a gun in a holster, she walked up to
Mr Woodhatch as he used a pay-phone outside his ward at the Royal Free
Hospital in north London. He was due to leave hospital later that day.
At point-blank range, she pumped four dum-dum bullets into him.
She then fled to New Zealand, but returned to Britain and confessed
after she ''found the Lord'' and became a committed Christian.
The judge said told her told today he was ''quite satisfied'' that she
was influenced by 25-year-old Bridges. But she had been ready to give
evidence ''of crucial importance'' against Bridges and of some
importance against 35-year-old Tubbs.
He commented: ''That is the reason which justifies a substantial
reduction in the figure which would otherwise be recommended to the
Secretary of State.''
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