THE widow of a man found bludgeoned to death in a country lane collapsed in tears yesterday as she and her nephew were found guilty of his murder.

Christina Button, 32, put her head in her hands and wept uncontrollably as she was convicted of plotting with Simon Tannahill to kill her husband, George.

Because of her emotional state, she was remanded in custody to await sentence today.

During the three week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard how Mrs Button had run up huge debts on designer clothes and luxury holidays and planned her husband's death to claim almost £450,000 in life insurance.

Mr Button, 53, was killed in March as he walked his dog along a dark country lane near his home in West Rainton, near Durham City.

The court heard how Tannahill, 20, hit Mr Button across the head with a blunt instrument at least six times.

He then left him for dead by the side of the road, hoping police would think he was a victim of a hit-and-run accident.

Sentencing Tannahill to life in prison, Mr Justice Royce told him: "This was a callous and calculated killing of a fine and gentle man who was a good husband to Christina Button and was kind and rewarding to you."

Speaking after the case, George's brother Fred, 58, and his daughter Helen, 31, both of County Durham, said they were extremely pleased with the guilty verdicts.

Geography teacher Helen said: "We are just so relieved it is over and we are happy that uncle George can rest in peace and he has received justice."

Engineer Fred said: "It has been a very difficult thing to go through for the whole family.

"But hopefully the guilty verdicts have been a watershed for what we have been through since March. We are totally relieved."

The court had heard how Mr Button was considered "well off" when he met his wife as he had recently inherited his parents' home in Shiney Row, County Durham.

The pair, who have a daughter, seven-year-old Laura, set up home in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton, after they were married.

Toby Hedworth, prosecuting, told the court: "One of them was the dominant force, one was in control, one would get the benefit. One would do the dirty work because he was besotted with her."

Tannahill had been living with relatives but had accepted an offer from Mrs Button to move into their home.

Mr Hedworth said Tannahill quickly became besotted with his aunt and this was a situation she was well-aware of and happy to take advantage of.

Her plot to kill her husband began after she ran up huge debts because of her persistent spending on luxury items. She had a long history of getting into financial difficulties.

Overall, the couple were £197,000 in debt and in the year before the murder, Mrs Button was in possession of 14 store cards.

She expected benefits paid to her following her husband's death would exceed £450,000.

The court was told Mrs Button had bragged to her two neighbours that she would be a very rich woman should her husband die.

She even asked one neighbour, who had come into money following her own husband's death, about the details of his life insurance policy