Nisha husband gets 20 years for murder

The husband of special constable Nisha Patel-Nasri was today jailed at the Old Bailey for a minimum of 20 years for ordering her murder.

The judge said Fadi Nasri, 34, would have received a higher sentence but he could not be sure the motivation was money.

Mrs Patel-Nasri, 29, was stabbed to death outside her Wembley home by a henchman hired by her husband on their third wedding anniversary.

While she lay bleeding to death outside the house, Nasri had arranged an alibi by playing snooker with friends.

He had wanted to set up a new life with his Lithuanian prostitute girlfriend, Laura Mockiene, who was in the public gallery to see him jailed.

His debts had virtually bankrupted his limousine business but hairdresser Nisha's death meant he was rescued by a massive insurance payout.

Recorder of London Peter Beaumont QC said: "Although her death undoubtedly provided an opportunity for Nasri to continue his liaison with his mistress and undoubtedly involved, as a byproduct, him benefiting from her insurance-policies, the guilty verdict did not require the jury to be satisfied that this was a contract killing for gain."

Jason Jones, who carried out the murder, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years and heroin dealer Rodger Leslie, the link man between the two men, received a minimum term of 18 years. Nasri, Leslie, 38, both of Barnet, and Jones, 36, of Manor Park, were convicted last month of the murder in May 2006. All had pleaded not guilty.

Outside court, Mrs Patel-Nasri's brother Katen claimed Nasri's sentence was too short. He said: "Nasri has taken a life, it should have been life."

In an impact statement read to the court, he had said: "There are no words to describe the pain I have suffered in losing my little Nisha."