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LONDON (February 1, 2002 4:55 p.m. EST) – A jealous husband who
tape-recorded himself strangling his wife – quoting the catch-phrase from a
popular TV game show as she died – was convicted and sentenced to life in
prison Friday.

Richard Cooper, 40, from Tonbridge in southeast England, shouted “You are
the weakest link – goodbye” while he killed his 46-year-old wife, Teresa, in
March.

That’s the catch line as contestants are ejected from the game show “The
Weakest Link,” which originated in Britain and now has versions in at least
11 other countries, including the United States.

Cooper believed she was having an affair with another man. He had placed a
tape recorder under a table in her home in an effort to catch her cheating,
but it was still running when he returned to the apartment in a jealous
rage.

“None of us who sat in this court and heard the contents of that tape will
probably ever forget it,” said Judge Andrew Patience of Maidstone Crown
Court. “I for my part certainly won’t. What you did was wicked almost beyond
belief.”

In a taped interview with police, Cooper accused his wife of being
unfaithful.

“I have killed her because of what she has done, cheated on me again, talked
about me like I was some worthless dog,” he said.

Cooper told police he had not planned the attack and had “lost it
completely” when he confronted his wife.

Teresa Cooper had moved out of the home she shared with her husband in
October 2000 and into her own apartment, but they kept in touch.

The defendant cried as the tape of the killing was played in court.

“She would not tell me she loved me, that’s all I wanted her to do,” he
testified.

His lawyer, Michael O’Sullivan, read a letter in which Richard Cooper
apologized to his wife’s family.

“I would like to tell Teresa’s family how sorry I am for the fact they had
to hear some very distressing things,” it said. “You may well blame me, even
hate me forever but I really am truly sorry for everything.”