US woman gets life term for murdering husband

An American woman who had previously been married nine times has been sentenced to life for killing her 10th husband to collect his USD 175,000 life insurance and then setting the body on fire.

Sharon Maxwell, 44, was sentenced to life in prison, a USD 10,000 fine and will not be eligible for parole until 2042, for murdering her husband Gordon Maxwell in Ore City in 2011.

She also lied that her 19-year-old son James, shot her husband Gordon Maxwell four times in the head and then set fire to his body in his pick-up truck in an attempt to get off the murder charge.

The case went to jury at the District Court in Gilmer and the verdict read, "We the jury find the defendant Sharon Ann Maxwell, guilty of murder as charged in the indictment."

Prosecutors said Sharon, who has been divorced nine times, wanted to collect the USD 175,000 life insurance on her husband, the local KLTV reported.

They also speculated that Gordon Maxwell was planning to leave his wife after he found out she was cheating on him.

The court heard Sharon had been having sex with a former lover in the days before her husband was shot dead in August 2011.

After being killed, his body was dragged from the home he shared with Sharon and dumped in his pick-up truck where he was doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Prosecutor Billy Byrd said Sharon was a "great actress" and the case was all about lies, deceit and manipulation.

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