Two brothers have both been jailed for at least 30 years for the murder of a marketing manager who was smothered with chloroform.
Judge Patrick Thomas QC described the case as "a cold-blooded intention to kill, regardless of the consequences" as he sentenced Roger and David Cooper, aged 41 and 39, at Birmingham Crown Court for the Christmas Eve murder of 34-year-old Sameena Imam, from Cardiff.
An eight-week trial heard that Costco boss Roger Cooper spent at least a month plotting to kill his colleague - one of his three lovers - to prevent her exposing their two-year affair after she issued him with an ultimatum to leave his long-term partner.
There was even a sign saying "I'm running out of places to hide the bodies" at the allotment where Sameena's body was found in a shallow grave.
'A joyful and bubbly young woman brutally betrayed'
Jailing the killers for life on Wednesday, Judge Thomas QC told the siblings: "The use of a poison in a case such as this demonstrates a cold-blooded intention to kill, regardless of the consequences. You worked together, hand in glove, in planning and carrying out the murder of a joyful and bubbly young woman, brutally betrayed by a man she loved and his brother."
Both Roger and ex-soldier David Cooper - who are 6ft 5in and 6ft 7in respectively - were convicted of the murder on Tuesday and had remained calm and not looked at each other as they were found guilty by a jury.
Ms Imam who was just 5ft 2in, is believed to have been overpowered on a sofa at David Cooper’s home in Hughenden Drive, Leicester, between 5.07pm and 6.26pm on December 24.
The victim, who worked at Costco stores in Cardiff, Southampton, Bristol and Coventry, was reported missing by family members in Essex after failing to return home for Christmas, sparking a major police inquiry.
Roger Cooper, 41, and his 39-year-old brother were arrested on suspicion of murder on January 7 - a week before Ms Imam’s body was found buried on an allotment in Leicester.
At the start of the trial, it was alleged that Roger Cooper was “juggling” relationships with three women, including Sameena and a second colleague, while managing Coventry’s Costco warehouse.
The retail worker, of Tilehurst Drive, Coventry, told police investigating Ms Imam’s disappearance that he last saw her when she left the store at about 4pm on December 24.
'I have questions for those who did this'
Following the verdicts, Ms Imam’s younger brother, Imran Imam, read his victim impact statement to the court.
As his sister’s killers continued to show no sign of emotion in the dock, Mr Imam said he was constantly reminded of her loss, even by everyday items such as signposts for places linked to her death.
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