Bio

Susan Barber was born in 1953.

In 1970 she married Michael Barber. She was 17 years old and he was 24. Michael worked as an unskilled labourer.

At the time of their marriage Susan already had a six-month-old daughter from a previous relationship. Michael believed the baby was his. The couple moved into a pre-war terraced house on Osborne Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.

By 1980 the Barbers had three children. The household life and family situation formed the years after Susan’s marriage.

Murder Story

Susan Barber was born in 1953. She was also known as "The Paraquat Poisoner." She was classified as a murderer and described as a poisoner. Her number of victims was one. The date of the murder was June 27, 1981. She was arrested on April 5, 1982. The victim was her husband, Michael Barber, age 35. The method of murder was poisoning (paraquat). The location was Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. She was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 1982.

Susan and Michael Barber married in 1970 and lived at Osborne Road in Westcliff-on-Sea. By 1980 they had three children. Susan had a relationship with a younger man who lived nearby. On March 31, 1981, Michael returned home early from a cancelled fishing trip and found Susan and the younger man together. Michael struck them both. Susan later sought treatment for a bruise to her ear.

On June 4, 1981, Michael began to feel unwell with a headache. Over the next days he developed stomach pains, nausea and breathing problems. He was admitted to Southend General Hospital and placed in intensive care. On June 17 he was transferred to Hammersmith Hospital with a severe kidney condition. Doctors raised the question of paraquat poisoning and asked for blood and urine samples to be sent to the National Poisons Reference Centre. Due to an administrative error, the samples were not sent and it was believed a negative result had been received.

Michael Barber died on June 27, 1981. A post-mortem was carried out by Professor David Evans. Major organs were preserved and histology slides were prepared. Michael was cremated on July 3, 1981. That same night the younger man moved into the Barber home. In October Susan received a death benefit from Michael’s employer.

In September and later months, examination of the histology slides and tissue samples showed evidence of paraquat. Tissue samples were sent to ICI, the makers of paraquat, and serum samples were sent to the National Poisons Unit. These tests confirmed the presence of paraquat. A police investigation followed and Susan Barber and the younger man were arrested on April 5, 1982.

Their trial at Chelmsford Crown Court began on November 1, 1982. Susan Barber faced charges including murder, conspiracy to murder and administering poison with intent to injure. The younger man faced a charge of conspiracy to murder. Both were convicted. Susan Barber was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 1982. The younger man received a two-year sentence.