AFORMER prostitute who murdered her elderly husband after he lied about his wealth was jailed for life yesterday.

A single thrust with a large kitchen knife left 72-year-old Gwyn Edwards dying on the kitchen floor.

Tatjana Edwards, 27, of Chobham Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, who insisted she had being trying to commit suicide at the time, claimed that as her elderly husband fought to disarm her, she accidentally stabbed him.

But a jury had rejected the account and convicted her of murdering Mr Edwards on June 11 last year.

Yesterday, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC told the weeping defendant: "This was hardly a marriage made in heaven.

"You first met your husband while you worked in a massage parlour and he was a client.

"You lived with him rather less than two years, during which time you took every penny off him you could, and when you could get no more you took his life away."

The judge added: "You described yourself in documents as manipulative, controlling and hot-tempered.

"This at least shows a degree of insight on your part, because no-one could doubt on the evidence heard in this court that you are all of these things.

"And it was those qualities together with your endless demands for more and more money which he was no longer able or prepared to meet that led you to rage against him and the tragic end of his life."

He said the former prostitute had not only "falsely accused" her late husband of abusing her and being violent towards her, but had shown "precious little evidence of either remorse of contrition" for what was clearly an "unprovoked" attack.

The judge added Edwards would have to serve 12 years before being considered for parole. Still sobbing uncontrollably, she was then led to the cells.

The trial had heard Tatjana Plotnikova arrived in Britain from Estonia in April 2002 as a would-be fashion student.