Dena Thompson

Dena Thompson (born 1960)[1] is a convicted murderer, confidence trickster [2] and bigamist.[3] She habitually met men through lonely hearts columns and stole their money.[4] She is currently in prison for murdering former Media Manager Julian Webb. She was acquitted of the attempted murder of a second man, Richard Thompson, and is also suspected of murdering an ex-boyfriend. She was sentenced to 16 years in prison at the age of 43. She was also convicted of stealing from and defrauding her former lovers. Following her conviction Detective Chief Inspector Martyn Underhill stated: "This woman is every man's nightmare, the most dangerous woman I have ever met. For a decade, she has targeted men sexually, financially and physically. The men of Britain can sleep safe tonight knowing she has been taken off the road by being rammed ."[5] A judge described her as: "one of the most fluent liars I have come across."[6] Detective Chief Inspector Martyn Underhill noted Thompson's misandry, stating: "I think the events of her childhood have made her hate men. If you look at her life, it is always men she has targeted."[1]

Early life

Thompson was born Dena Holmes in 1960 in Hendon, North London. She worked for a building society.[7]

Lee Wyatt

Thompson married Wyatt in the 1990s. She convinced Wyatt that he had received £50 million for a toy he had patented and was wanted by the mafia. He was forced to live homeless for years in order to escape the mafia.[8] The defence described Wyatt as a 'fantasist'.[9] Thompson later claimed in court that Wyatt had assaulted her, their son and her mother. She made allegations also of sexual assault.[9] She had previously secured an injunction against him.[10] No charges concerning Wyatt were brought against her.

Julian Webb

Thompson bigamously married Julian Webb in 1991.[11] She murdered him on his 31st birthday in June 1994 by poisoning a curry. Webb had a penchant for very hot curry and it is speculated that this would have masked the taste of the anti-depressants.[12] He died of an overdose of anti-depressants and paracetemol. The inquest recorded an open verdict. Thompson unsuccessfully attempted to have his body cremated.[13] She tried also to collect money amounting to £35,000, which would be released from his pension plan, in the event of his death [11] but Webb's mother was able to establish that Thompson was not his next of kin, as she was still married to her first husband.[14]

Following Thompson's trial for attempting to murder Richard Thompson, Webb's body was exhumed.[15]

Julian Webb's mother later testified that she had warned her son about marrying a woman whom he had known for only three months.[16]

Richard Thompson

Dena Holmes married Richard Thompson (her 3rd Husband) in 1998.[1]

Dena Thompson attempted to kill her bound and gagged husband with a baseball bat. She claimed that he had attacked her following the revelation that she had defrauded him and had retaliated in self-defence.[15][17]

She was acquitted of attempting to murder him, but was sentenced on 15 counts of fraud, for three years and nine months in prison.

Following the acquittal for attempting to murder Richard Thompson, the police announced they would be exhuming Julian Webb's body (Her 2nd Husband).

Richard Thompson later described Dena as 'pure evil'.[18]

Conviction

In 2003, she was sentenced to a minimum of sixteen years in prison.[15] Following her conviction it was reported, that Thompson was being investigated about the disappearance of Stoyan Kostov.[19][20]

References
  1. "Black Widow: Inside the mind of a predator (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. "Mystery over tragedy of a salesman (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 12 October 2001. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  3. "Bigamist tells of first husband's abuse (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. "Deadly Women: Insatiable Greed". YouTube. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. "UK | England | 'Curry killing' wife jailed". BBC News. 15 December 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. "Dena Thompson, The Black Widow by Guy Toyn". Courtnewsuk.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. "Dena Thompson:THE BLACK WIDOW AND THE POISONED VINDALOO - Court News UK". courtnewsuk.co.uk. 13 December 2003. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  8. "UK | England | Accused wife 'spun web of lies'". BBC News. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  9. "Jury told of witness's 'fantasy life' (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 21 November 2003. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  10. Pook, Sally (12 November 2003). "Bigamous wife 'killed husband by poisoning his curry'". Telegraph. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  11. "Husband 'killed by curry treat' (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  12. "Black Widow gets life for poison curry murder. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 16 December 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  13. "UK | England | Favourite curry hid wife's poison". BBC News. 15 December 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  14. Rosie Cowan, crime correspondent (16 December 2003). "'Black widow' jailed for life for killing husband | UK news". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  15. "UK | England | Curry killer must serve 16 years". BBC News. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  16. "UK | England | Overdose victim 'warned about wife'". BBC News. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  17. "Bondage case wife is jailed (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  18. "'I hope she just rots in prison'. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 16 December 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  19. This is Cornwall (15 March 2010). "'Black Widow' | poisoned curry | Dena Thompson | Julian Webb| Cullompton, Devon | Stoyan Kostov missing | Western Morning News". West Briton. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  20. This is Exeter (15 March 2010). "Hunt is on for another possible victim of the 'Black Widow'". Exeter Express and Echo. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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