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<\/p>\nTHE family of a woman murdered by her cheating pig farmer husband are battling to win back her fortune from him.<\/p>\n
David Venables, 90, slaughtered Brenda in 1982 and hid her body in a cesspit at the couple's farmhouse in Kempsey, Worcestershire.<\/p>\n
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The 48-year-old's remains were discovered 37 years later, with her husband jailed for life for murder last year.<\/p>\n
Brenda's family have now launched a legal bid to claw back her fortune from Venables and be awarded compensation.<\/p>\n
After her disappearance, the killer inherited her estate, which is believed to be made up of a share of their farm and a lucrative stake in the family business<\/span>.<\/p>\n Brenda's nephew Timothy Sheppy, 58, is leading the legal battle against Venables alongside other family members at the High Court.<\/p>\n Their lawyer said: "Mr Sheppy wants to administer his aunt's estate, and this would include seeking damages for the murder, and recovering such assets and interests the defendant inherited.<\/p>\n "The claimants seek in addition aggravated and exemplary damages given the manner of her death.<\/p>\n "It is unknown whether the death was instant or whether Brenda suffered or was even still alive when her body was confined to the cesspit by the defendant."<\/p>\n Appearing via video link from prison, the killer argued he is hoping to appeal his murder conviction, which would make the case pointless<\/span> if he is successful.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n But Master Richard Davison said Venables has given no details of the appeal as he agreed there was a "clear case" for removing him as his wife's "personal representative" given the grim circumstances.<\/p>\n He said another court would have to deal with that issue but granted a summary judgment in favour of the family's claim for aggravated damages due to the brutal nature of the murder.<\/p>\n The case will return to court for an assessment of damages for the attack and for the application to remove Venables as personal representative of the estate.<\/p>\n Venables, known locally as "Dirty David" because he slept with so many mistresses, was having a "long-standing affair" with his mum's former carer Lorraine<\/span> Styles behind wife Brenda's back.<\/p>\n Jurors heard how Venables "wanted Brenda out of the way" so he could continue the affair.<\/p>\n After murdering his wife, he found the "perfect hiding place" in the secluded septic tank.<\/p>\n He dumped Brenda's body then called police on May 4, 1982, and reported her missing.<\/p>\n Venables played the part of worried husband to the best of his abilities – claiming he woke up to find Brenda gone.<\/p>\n He also lied to officers about Brenda being depressed, which led locals to believe she had taken her own life.<\/p>\n For 37 years she lay undiscovered in the cesspit as her disappearance was treated as a missing person's enquiry.<\/p>\n But his evil web of lies unravelled in 2019 when Brenda's skull and other bones were discovered during work to empty the underground chamber after he sold the house.<\/p>\nRead more news<\/h2>\n
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