Husband who beat estranged wife to death & staged it as suicide caught ‘after his LOVER spotted tell-tale clue on CCTV’

A HUSBAND who beat his estranged wife to death and staged the scene as a suicide was caught after his LOVER allegedly spotted a tell-tale clue on CCTV. Adrian Basham, 45, was found guilty of murdering psychologist Samantha Fraser, 38, after brutally beating her on July 23, 2018. FacebookSamantha Fraser, 38, was beaten to death by her jealous ex-husband[/caption] FacebookBrute Adrian Basham, 45, staged the scene as a suicide after mercilessly attacking the mother of his children[/caption] His new lover noticed his distinctive walk in CCTV footage released by cops He now faces life in prison after killing her at the home they had once shared with their three kids on Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia. The jealous thug had hounded Samantha after their split in 2017 and was hellbent on financially crippling her. But he claimed the optimistic mum had killed herself after they fought as she had been severely depressed. Samantha’s lifeless body was tragically found hanging in the garage at her home after she failed to pick her children up from school. But suspicions arose when cops found a “neat” and “complex” knot tied around her neck and a post-mortem revealed 41 blunt force injuries to her body. It was discovered the doting mum, who had just celebrated her 38th birthday a day earlier, had sustained a brain injury after being mercilessly attacked. No data found The jury heard vile Basham had laid in wait for his estranged wife for over an hour, before pouncing when she drove into the garage. Unsuspecting Samantha bravely struggled against the brute, managing to scratch his nose and arm. Former construction worker Basham beat her to death before arranging an elaborate scene to make it appear that she had taken her own life. There was no suicide note, but prosecutors told how the devious killer knocked over a step ladder to support his version of events. Most read in The Sun GRUMPY TRUMPY Moment Trump storms off Piers Morgan interview raging 'you're DISLOYAL' BABY JOY! Vogue Williams gives birth & shares first snap of third tot with Spencer Matthews PRICE OF FAME Katie Price is selling off dirty designer heels ahead of bankruptcy hearing NUKE ALERT Dramatic moment Putin test-fires 16,000mph ‘Satan-2’ nuke that could wipe out UK PAY BACK Thousands of households receive £150 council tax rebate into bank accounts SCOUTS ARE OUT Man Utd's two leading scouts leave as club prepares transfer overhaul The suspicious circumstances surrounding Samantha’s death were then heightened after cops analysed CCTV from a neighbour’s home. They released the video footage in the hopes of identifying a hooded man seen lurking around the area on the day of Samantha’s death. Police claim the mystery man was Basham – after a woman he was dating reportedly recognised his distinctive walk. The court heard other witnesses had seen someone “running” from the scene, before Basham rode his motorcycle to his father’s home. He was questioned by police and released while investigators continued their probe. But cops alleged just days later, the monster had attempted to intimidate witnesses who were helping officers with their inquiries. He was finally charged with Samantha’s murder on August 2. Forensic experts claim DNA profiles of three contributors were found on the surface of the knot of the noose used to hang the mum. ‘STAGED SUICIDE’ The DNA is said to be 100 billion times more likely to be Basham’s than a person chosen randomly from the Caucasian population. More of Basham’s alleged DNA was found under his ex-wife’s fingernails – suggesting she had fought desperately against him. Basham’s barrister Ashley Halphen told the jury his client indeed assaulted Ms Fraser on the day she died, but he denied killing her.  But prosecutors slammed the insinuation Samantha had climbed the ladder and neatly tied a knot behind her head after being violently assaulted as “absolute rubbish”. Nanette Rogers SC said: “This was a staged suicide by the accused with the nice touch of the knocked over step ladder, very close to the hanging body. “This was not a suicide. Samantha Fraser did not kill herself after being assaulted so extensively by the accused. “She fought desperately for her life. “There was deep bruising to her hands and wrists, consistent with being restrained and she managed to scratch his nose and arm.” There will never be justice served as Sam can’t come back. It’s never enough, but we’re happy that the jury has seen the truth. Lija MathewsSamantha's friend Basham was described as “controlling and abusive” during the couple’s marriage as well as after their separation. The court heard he was convinced Samantha had cheated on him, was determined to ruin her financially and repeatedly taunted her with chilling threats. Samantha once disturbingly told a counsellor that Basham had warned her: “If I can’t have you, no one will.” But despite her ex-husband haunting her, the 38-year-old told her new boyfriend she was excited to begin a “wonderful new stage in my life.” She had suspected Basham was tracking her phone and had an active intervention order out on him at the time of her murder. His defence counsel admitted he had breached the order and that he had expelled a lot of “hot air” to friends of the couple in the year running up to Samantha’s death. But a jury took less than two days to see through his web of lies and deliver their unanimous guilty verdict. Samantha’s devastated pal Lija Mathews said: “We’ve known for 1,368 days that he was guilty. GRIFCO/PRTRAVEL- SUNDAY CHECK IN CHECK OUT : FELLOWS HOUSE / THE SUN[/caption] Read More on The Sun KILLER'S CRIES Evil mum HOWLS as she's found guilty of killing son, 5, with stepdad & teen AIR RAGE Boxing icon Mike Tyson 'repeatedly punches passenger in face during plane attack' “There will never be justice served as Sam can’t come back. It’s never enough, but we’re happy that the jury has seen the truth.” Basham will face a pre-sentence hearing in September. FacebookTragic Samantha had been excited to start a new chapter in her life without controlling Basham[/caption] FacebookThe brutal killer had been on a mission to ruin his ex-wife financially after their split[/caption]