Broken lives at heart of murder case

INSTEAD of celebrating Anne Shortall’s birthday last Wednesday, her three heartbroken children placed flowers on her grave. Roy Webster was exposed as a cowardly thug who brutally murdered the 47-year-old when she threatened to expose their one-night stand. The trial heard how she told him she was going to lift the lid on their brief fling and also claimed she was pregnant with his baby. Instead of coming clean to his wife, Webster took the twisted step to murder Ms Shortall with a hammer in a savage attack. People in similar circumstances may reveal their deceit to their loved one and perhaps lose their marriage but in Webster’s case, a woman is dead and he will spend most of his life in prison. Sadly, there are many victims in this tragic case. Ms Shortall’s grown-up children will never get to embrace her again and her family will never get over the loss. Her brother has already taken his own life in the wake of her brutal murder after family claimed he couldn’t deal with her death. And Webster’s innocent wife and children will have to live without him as he serves the mandatory life sentence imposed on him. And despite his apology for taking her life, he will forever have to live with the guilt of his heinous crime.