MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER AFTER POLICE OVERHEARD PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS JAILED FOR LIFE
A man convicted of murdering his girlfriend’s mother after police listened in on his prayers for forgiveness has been sentenced to life imprisonment.George Maben, 45 years old, was responsible for the death of 65-year-old Maureen Cosgrove at her home on March 24.
At that time, Maben lived with Cosgrove’s daughter, Lucy Rees, who was pregnant with his child, at the property located in Carshalton Beeches, south London.
Following police surveillance—which included bugging his car—Maben was arrested after recordings captured him saying, "God, forgive me for what I have done." He is expected to serve a minimum of 13 years before he can apply for parole.
During the trial, CCTV footage showed Maben traveling by bus from his mother’s residence to Cosgrove’s home, and he was observed wearing gloves during the journey.
Fibers matching Cosgrove’s clothing were recovered from his clothing, but additional evidence was initially required.
Police had installed a listening device inside Maben’s Ford Focus vehicle, which recorded him pleading for help: "Please God, help me ...
for me and Lucy eliminated from all police inquiries and everything’s all right, please God help me." The prosecution argued that this was a confession of murder.
It was also suggested that Maben’s relationship with Cosgrove had become strained, with prosecutors implying her death might have been driven by a desire for freedom from her control, based on recorded remarks from Maben.
Lucy Rees testified she loved Maben but admitted that she and her mother argued at times.
She stated that Maben explained his recorded plea as a prayer seeking forgiveness after stealing from Cosgrove’s handbag.
Although Maben denied killing Cosgrove, the jury found him guilty.
The judge, Jeremy Roberts, sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum of 13 years, noting that the act was unusual for him and likely committed under emotional duress, which led to a reduced sentence.
The judge emphasized that nothing should blame Cosgrove—described as an innocent victim—and said: "It was no one's fault that the situation developed where your relationship with Lucy, whom you loved deeply, and her mother, whom you must have seen as an obstacle, drove you to such an act of desperation." Rees left the courtroom without comment, but her brother John expressed the family's sorrow, stating: "We have lost a loving mother and grandmother in a particularly horrific way."
