A mother of three children went on trial in Omagh Crown Court yesterday for the murder of her husband, for which her lover is already serving life
Ms Lesley Ann Gault (37) denies murdering her husband, Paul, who was bludgeoned to death with a hockey stick by her fireman lover Gordon Graham in Lisburn in May 2000.
Prosecuting QC Mr Paul Ramsay said Ms Gault helped lure her husband into the "ambush". He told the jury: "It seems monstrous that a wife would play a part in the cold-blooded murder of her husband."
Mr Ramsay said: "Graham and Lesley Gault went from being partners in love to partners in crime and partners in murder."
However, their plans "were undone by a combination of arrogance on the part of Gordon Graham, bad luck, and dogged police and forensic work".
Mr Ramsey said it was not the prosecution's assertion that Ms Gault "was present or participated in the physical act of her husband's murder". But "she supplied the essential information for him (Graham) to carry out his deadly work".
Mr Ramsey said both planned the murder, and Ms Gault manipulated her husband's movements to ensure his death. Graham and Ms Gault were caught up in a "deep torrid liaison"; when discovered "it propelled Gordon Graham and Lesley Gault to hatch a terrible plan to removing Paul as an impediment to their future happiness".
The court heard that Graham (40), a divisional fire chief, and Ms Gault had met at Fire Brigade Headquarters in Lisburn where they both worked.
On the day of the killing, the Gaults had planned to spend the weekend in Enniskillen, while their children were to be looked after by Mr Gault's parents.
After leaving them at school Mr Gault was dropped off to finish the packing, unaware that Graham was lying in wait for him.