Michael Bowen was jailed for life for killing wife Sandie in 1998 but has never revealed where her body is
A heartbroken daughter has backed calls for a law change to stop killers being free from jail until they reveal where they hid their victim’s body.
Anita Giles has endured more than 18 years of torment since her mother Sandie Bowen, 54, was murdered by husband Michael Bowen.
Forestry worker Bowen, 69, was freed in February after serving a life sentence – but he still refuses to confess where he dumped hotel worker Sandie.
Her calls follow those of Marie McCourt, 72, who wants Government action because of fears the man who killed her daughter Helen, 22, in 1988 could get parole without telling what he did with her body.
She has received support from the mothers of murder victims Paul Morson, 32, and Chantel Taylor,27, whose bodies have never been found even though their killers were convicted.
A heartbroken daughter has backed calls for a law change to stop killers being free from jail until they reveal where they hid their victim’s body.
Anita Giles has endured more than 18 years of torment since her mother Sandie Bowen, 54, was murdered by husband Michael Bowen.
Forestry worker Bowen, 69, was freed in February after serving a life sentence – but he still refuses to confess where he dumped hotel worker Sandie.
Her calls follow those of Marie McCourt, 72, who wants Government action because of fears the man who killed her daughter Helen, 22, in 1988 could get parole without telling what he did with her body.
She has received support from the mothers of murder victims Paul Morson, 32, and Chantel Taylor,27, whose bodies have never been found even though their killers were convicted.
'The law must change'
Mum-of-three Mrs Giles, 51, was unaware Bowen had been freed until after he was released from jail this year.
She said: “The law must change – it’s been torture for me and my children.
“I don’t think he deserves to have a life outside prison – life should mean life until a killer owns up to what he did with his victim. I’ve always hoped that if he strangled my mum she died then and there without suffering – not knowing is horrible.
“I used to have horrific nightmares about her being left to die – even though we are talking about something that happened 18 years ago it still feels like yesterday. I had a memorial service for my mum once he was convicted that was the only thing I could do because we still don’t have a body for her funeral.
“I’ve only ever had two questions for him: ‘Why did you murder my mum and where is her body’ – but he won’t give me the answers. Why is it fair for him to be released when my family still have all this suffering.
“I was an only child and my two eldest sons are about to become fathers. I will be a grandmother for the first time but he has robbed me of celebrating this with my mum. Finding her body would help us move on – I wouldn’t have to keep thinking one day her body will be found.
Mum-of-three Mrs Giles, 51, was unaware Bowen had been freed until after he was released from jail this year.
She said: “The law must change – it’s been torture for me and my children.
“I don’t think he deserves to have a life outside prison – life should mean life until a killer owns up to what he did with his victim. I’ve always hoped that if he strangled my mum she died then and there without suffering – not knowing is horrible.
“I used to have horrific nightmares about her being left to die – even though we are talking about something that happened 18 years ago it still feels like yesterday. I had a memorial service for my mum once he was convicted that was the only thing I could do because we still don’t have a body for her funeral.
“I’ve only ever had two questions for him: ‘Why did you murder my mum and where is her body’ – but he won’t give me the answers. Why is it fair for him to be released when my family still have all this suffering.
“I was an only child and my two eldest sons are about to become fathers. I will be a grandmother for the first time but he has robbed me of celebrating this with my mum. Finding her body would help us move on – I wouldn’t have to keep thinking one day her body will be found.
'I support campaign'
“I will definitely support Marie’s campaign.”
Sandie vanished from home in Llandogo, Monmouthshire, in August 1997, hours after a friend told her second husband Bowen she was having an affair.
Daughter Anita said the cheating claim against her mum was untrue.
She believes Bowen killed her mum during a row in their bedroom where a speck of blood was later found on a pillow. Bowen later called Anita to say he had dropped off Sandie atNewport railway station and she was intending to visit her in Folkestone, Kent.
But when Sandie failed to arrive Anita called police who found her false teeth in a dustbin at home – along with her wedding and engagement rings.
“I will definitely support Marie’s campaign.”
Sandie vanished from home in Llandogo, Monmouthshire, in August 1997, hours after a friend told her second husband Bowen she was having an affair.
Daughter Anita said the cheating claim against her mum was untrue.
She believes Bowen killed her mum during a row in their bedroom where a speck of blood was later found on a pillow. Bowen later called Anita to say he had dropped off Sandie atNewport railway station and she was intending to visit her in Folkestone, Kent.
But when Sandie failed to arrive Anita called police who found her false teeth in a dustbin at home – along with her wedding and engagement rings.
'Refused to reveal whereabouts of body'
Anita, an intensive family support worker, said: “The police reckon he wrapped my mum’s body in tarpaulin and carried her downstairs and put her in the back of his Land Rover.
“But my mum was not small - she was about 5ft 7in and weighed 11st - and I’m convinced Bowen would have needed help because he was shorter than my mum. Bowen made up some cock and bull story in 2002 that she fell overboard while they had an argument on his fishing boat on the River Wye. But I know my mum would never have gone out of the house without her false teeth and her wedding and engagement rings.”
Three times wed Michael Bowen was jailed for life at Newport Crown Court in 1998 after Sandie’s blood and false teeth were found at the couple’s home.
During the trial Bowen denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance. Bowen claimed that after asking Sandie for a divorce he left her in Newport to catch the train to Folkestone. But detectives believe he killed Sandie at their home in the Wye Valley and buried her body in nearby Wentwood forest.
While in jail, Bowen admitted in 2002 that he was responsible for his wife’s death – but still refused to reveal the whereabouts of her body.
Labour MP Conor McGinn is supporting Marie’s campaign to bring in Helen’s Law – named after her daughter – to stop killers being freed before they reveal the whereabouts of their victims.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/why-you-murder-mum-body-10606172
Anita, an intensive family support worker, said: “The police reckon he wrapped my mum’s body in tarpaulin and carried her downstairs and put her in the back of his Land Rover.
“But my mum was not small - she was about 5ft 7in and weighed 11st - and I’m convinced Bowen would have needed help because he was shorter than my mum. Bowen made up some cock and bull story in 2002 that she fell overboard while they had an argument on his fishing boat on the River Wye. But I know my mum would never have gone out of the house without her false teeth and her wedding and engagement rings.”
Three times wed Michael Bowen was jailed for life at Newport Crown Court in 1998 after Sandie’s blood and false teeth were found at the couple’s home.
During the trial Bowen denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance. Bowen claimed that after asking Sandie for a divorce he left her in Newport to catch the train to Folkestone. But detectives believe he killed Sandie at their home in the Wye Valley and buried her body in nearby Wentwood forest.
While in jail, Bowen admitted in 2002 that he was responsible for his wife’s death – but still refused to reveal the whereabouts of her body.
Labour MP Conor McGinn is supporting Marie’s campaign to bring in Helen’s Law – named after her daughter – to stop killers being freed before they reveal the whereabouts of their victims.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/why-you-murder-mum-body-10606172
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