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 Tony Terpstra and Serrena Benninger. (QMI Agency file photos) |
GODERICH, Ont. - They were star-crossed lovers with murderous intent.
Tony Terpstra, 40, and Serenna Benninger 39, were found guilty Tuesday night of conspiracy and counselling to commit the murder of Terpstra's wife, Shelia, 41.
The jury began its deliberations at 12:30 p.m. and came back with their verdicts shortly after 9 p.m.
Both stood motionless as the verdicts were read. Benninger remained standing for several minutes, her head bowed. Sheila Terpstra cried after the verdicts, but outside the Huron County courthouse, she was exuberant, leaping off the courthouse steps and pumping her arm in the air.
The case had a stunning ending.
Over more than two weeks, the jury heard about wife swapping, long torrid affairs and a naked hot tub incident interrupted by an angry wife.
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Central to the case was the hiring of a hitman to kill Sheila -- who turned out to be an undercover police officer.
At trial, Benninger said the plot was all Terpstra's idea and she was just following his orders. Terpstra said Benninger was the mastermind and he was "pretending" to go along with it."
The jury heard conversations each had with the hitman, the meetings also caught on police video tape. Terpstra suggested an "accident", an injection with insulin and a break and entering.
Terpstra is a wealthy concrete business owner who made millions after he was bought out of the family farming business.
Benninger is a meat manager at a grocery store who was stuck in an emotionally abusive marriage.
They met five years before their arrest at a stag and doe and carried ont heir affair on side road, in barns and on the phone.
In November 2007, Sheila caught the couple naked in the Terpstra hot tub. The following August, Benninger contacted Owen Curtis, 60 about a "favour."
She asked if he wanted to kill Sheila.
He told the OPP who set up a sting.
The jury heard conversation with the "hit man" with Benninger declaring her hatred for Shelia and wanting to see her "in a casket."
Terpstra, when negotiating the hit, said he wanted her "dead."
Both were arrested on March 12, 2009 after they were told the deed was done.
Benninger was arrested in a Listowel parking lot. Terpstra was arrested in Kingston near where he was working. Terpstra said he was pretending to go along with the plan to appease his girl friend.
"Justice was done in this case and the jury spent time to carefully consider all the evidence," said Huron County Crown attorney Robert Morris.
The pair are to be sentenced on June 28.
Both remain out of custody on bail.