"he was subjected to significant and sustained violence"
Surie Suksiri, aged 32, of London, received a life sentence for the murder of her stepfather.
On the evening of August 28, 2021, Frank McKeever disappeared after visiting her home in Highbury.
Whilst there, he was photographed in a “humiliating” position and forced to make a filmed confession to assaulting Suksiri when she was a child, saying he “deserved to be punished”.
Mr McKeever was then subjected to a “painful” and “protracted” death before his body was dumped by Suksiri and her then-boyfriend Juned Sheikh.
Judge Anthony Bate said: “Frank McKeever went willingly to visit the defendants.
“He expected them to welcome him as before and be treated with the respect that any guest deserves. Events took a sinister turn in that confined residential setting.”
After killing her stepfather, the couple lied about what happened and hid his body in a “wicked and sustained deceit”.
Judge Bate said it was a “serious affront to public standards of decency” and meant the family could not lay him to rest.
The victim’s older brother Dominic McKeever previously said the trial was “lengthy and harrowing”. He added that the family has been denied the chance to give “happy-go-lucky” Mr McKeever the “loving farewell” he deserves.
At the Old Bailey, he said: “In the summer of 2021, Frank embarked on a new, positive chapter in his life.
“He was busy making plans to move house, enjoying exploring London with his new freedom pass and had reconnected with us, his siblings, much to our happiness.
“Frank had a lot to live for. This bright future has been cruelly and casually taken away from him and from us.”
The family was “heartened” at the police stating that there is no evidence that the abuse allegations against the victim are true.
However, it added to the pain of his death.
In mitigation, Allison Hunter KC said Suksiri was vulnerable and had an alcohol addiction.
She added that her client had no desire to cause suffering to Mr McKeever’s family and would tell the authorities where his body was if she could.
Katherine Patterson, prosecuting, said the victim’s video confession was “staged”.
She said: “We still do not know the precise cause of Mr McKeever’s death.
“However, we invite the court to be sure that he was subjected to significant and sustained violence and suffered a painful, protracted and humiliating death.”
Mr McKeever’s disappearance came to light because he was due to complete a house swap with a couple. They reported him missing after contact ceased.
Suksiri claimed she had not spoken to her stepfather for 20 years.
But jurors heard that she pawned three of his rings for £200.
Suksiri’s sister-in-law raised concerns with social services, who contacted police after Suksiri told her about the recorded confession and sent her the video on WhatsApp.
The court heard recorded conversations between Suksiri and an undercover police officer, where she admitted to the murder.
Suksiri and Sheikh were found guilty of murder and preventing his lawful burial.
Suksiri will serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.
Sheikh, who has 16 previous convictions, will spend at least 24 years in prison.
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