Hayling Island Black Widow
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Hello, my name's Julia Worsley, and this is the latest edition of True Crime Documentaries for Shots TV.
00:09 This is the story of the Black Widow of Haling Island.
00:14 The truth of Dina Thompson's dark crimes only fully emerged when her second husband's body was exhumed from a family plot in Haling Island, seven years after she murdered him.
00:28 Now 63, Thompson was jailed for life in 2003 after she was convicted of killing Julian Webb at their home in Yacton, Sussex on his 31st birthday in June 1994.
00:41 But the truth only came to light due to the persistence of Mr Webb's mother, who was convinced her son had been murdered by Thompson.
00:50 Described by police as a dangerous woman and every man's nightmare, confidence trickster Thompson of Cullompton, Devon had a history of conning men out of money.
01:00 Before the murder was discovered, Thompson had already served time in 2000 for defrauding two of her surviving husbands, but had been cleared of trying to kill one of them, a Mr Richard Thompson.
01:12 She had attacked him with a bat and a knife, but claimed it had been in self-defence as she was fearful for her life during a bondage session gone wrong.
01:23 Thompson had married Mr Webb bigamously in 1991, while still married to her first husband, Lee Wyatt, who told the court she'd made false accusations against him, made him go on the run and set him up to take the blame for her frauds.
01:38 After Mr Webb's death and eventually divorcing Mr Wyatt, she married Mr Thompson, but they were later divorced.
01:46 Officers said she had targeted men sexually, financially and physically for a decade.
01:54 After the trial for the attempted murder of Richard Thompson, the mother of Julian Webb, Dina's second husband, came forward, insisting the death of her son be further investigated.
02:05 Thompson was found guilty of murder, and as a result his body was exhumed.
02:10 Fresh tests revealed a higher level of drugs in Mr Webb's body than first thought.
02:15 It was discovered that Thompson had hidden antidepressants in Mr Webb's favourite meal, and laced his drinks with ground aspirin, but claimed he'd taken his own life.
02:25 It's at the time of her crimes, Thompson was deceptive, could hold grudges and did not always have control of her temper.
02:33 However, whilst behind bars, she had taken part in rehabilitation courses, therapy, training and had already been temporarily released from prison.
02:43 In a document setting out the decision to release her, the parole board said, "After considering the circumstances of her offending, the progress made while in custody, and the other evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Ms Thompson was suitable for release once appropriate accommodation became available in early June 2022."
03:08 All the professionals who gave evidence during the hearing recommended her release on licence, according to the document.
03:16 And the parole judges concluded that the plan, which imposed restrictions on who she contacted, her movements and activities, was robust enough to support her ongoing supervision outside jail.
03:30 Thompson was also told to disclose any new relationships, provide details of vehicles used, as well as her passport and bank details, when required.
03:41 She now has to wear an electronic tag and adhere to a curfew.
03:46 Another factor which would reduce the risk of re-offending included the financial backing built up from sale of her artwork.
03:54 The parole document added that another factor that would reduce the risk of her re-offending included financial backing built up from sale of her artwork.
04:03 The parole board controversially granted Thompson's bid to be released and she was let out of prison in June 2022, having served a 19-year life sentence behind bars.
04:14 Since her release, Thompson has been spotted out and about shopping locally.
04:19 Her third husband, Richard Thompson, who survived being attacked by the killer, previously said she'll get calmer.
04:26 From her early 20s, Thompson, the daughter of a prison officer, born in Hampstead West, London, used lowly hearts columns to cast her net throughout the south of England to find single men looking for love.
04:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]