A solicitor was convicted today of arranging the contract killing of his business partner to get a life assurance payout.

Vina Patel, 51, was found dead in her office in Cort and Co solicitors in Blackbird Road, Leicester, on January 15 last year.

Today John Cort, 54, of Rutland Street, in Leicester city centre, and Brian Farrell, 37, of Queensborough Terrace, west London, were both found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of murdering Mrs Patel.

During the trial, the court heard that debt-ridden Cort hired Farrell to commit the murder in a "contract killing'' that would lead to a huge life assurance payout.

Farrell and Cort remained emotionless as the unanimous verdicts were given, while there were whispers of "yes'' from Mrs Patel's family in the public gallery.