Two people from Ealing have been sentenced for killing a man in a Buckinghamshire graveyard.

Martin Stanislaus, of Delta Grove, Northolt, was sentenced to 26 years behind bars at Reading Crown Court on Thursday (March 17) after he was found guilty of murdering Lee Gillespie at All Saints Church, Church Square, High Wycombe.

The 38-year-old was imprisoned for one count of murder, three years imprisonment for possession of a knife blade sharp pointed article in a public place and three years imprisonment for perverting the course of justice.

All sentences are to be served concurrently.

Lee Burns, of Willcott Road, Ealing, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

Jodie Willis, 36, of Beaconsfield, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for one count of murder and two years' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice, to be served concurrently.

The trio were all convicted at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday (March 16) following a seven week trial.

Stabbed up to 15 times

The court heard that Willis arranged for Mr Gillespie, who was her ex-boyfriend, to be murdered over the "bitterness and resentment" she felt over a "partner swap".

Mr Gillespie was knifed up to 15 times when he tripped and fell while trying to flee from the trio when they went to confront him.

Police were called to the graveyard at around 8.50pm on August 22, last year, to reports of a stabbing.

The ambulance service also attended but Mr Gillespie, from High Wycombe, was declared dead at the scene.

Stanislaus had been charged on August 25 and Burns was charged on August 26, following their arrest on August 23.

Killers tried to hide evidence

Senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Ailsa Kent from the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: "Lee Gillespie was killed in a brutal attack by three people while he was in a busy town centre on a Saturday night.

"We will never be able to fully understand what motivated Stanislaus, Burns and Willis to commit such a dreadful act, but it is clear that the former relationship between Willis and Gillespie had some bearing on the events of that night.

"Willis and her former partner, Stanislaus, travelled to Wycombe on that Saturday evening and were led to Lee Gillespie by Burns.

"The three of them chased Lee Gillespie down to a churchyard and Willis and Burns not only stood by and watched, but encouraged Stanislaus to inflict the fatal violence on Lee Gillespie.

"Back at Willis’ home, Stanislaus removed his bloodied clothing and bagged it up with the knife hiding them in the garden where the items were later found by police.

"Willis also changed her clothing after the attack, and discarded her distinctive flowing green dress in some undergrowth near the place where she spent the night in High Wycombe.

"There is nothing that can bring Lee back, but I hope that the sentences handed to Stanislaus, Willis and Burns today will help Lee’s loved ones as they come to terms with their loss.

"I would like to thank Lee’s family for their courage and support throughout the investigation, the officers and CPS who worked on the case, the witnesses for giving evidence and the jury for their careful consideration of the facts."