Coroner concludes Sandra Bowen was 'unlawfully killed'

A husband tied his wife's body to a heavy kitchen sink before throwing her into a reservoir where she lay for nearly 20 years, an inquest heard today.

Sandra Bowen, 54, was killed by her husband who kept his secret of what he did with her body.

An inquest heard how her remains were discovered when the reservoir at Wentwood Forest was drained for the first time in nearly 100 years.

Mrs Bowen, who was last seen alive in August 1997, was identified from dental records and DNA analysis.

A coroner today ruled Mrs Bowen was unlawfully killed.

Her husband Michael Bowen has been freed from prison after being convicted of her murder in 1998.

The inquest heard a post-mortem examination on her remains concluded that the cause of death was ascertained.

Gwent coroner David Bowen said: "Bearing in mind that no conclusion shall be inconsistent with the findings of a superior court, the conclusion is that Sandra Bowen was unlawfully killed."

Mrs Bowen's remains have been released to her family for her funeral and prosecutors also ruled out any further action against Michael Bowen