Dentist who poisoned wife's protein shakes jailed for murder

Telegraph

6 days ago

A Colorado dentist was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for killing his wife by lacing her protein shakes with poison before delivering a fatal dose of cyanide.
District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Colorado.
He was convicted of murder and other charges earlier in the day by a jury.
Craig poisoned his wife Angela Craig over 10 days in March 2023.
When those attempts failed, prosecutors said the dentist gave his wife a final dose of cyanide as she was taken to hospital in suburban Denver with symptoms that puzzled doctors. She was declared brain-dead soon after.
In addition to murder, Craig was found guilty of trying to cover up the killing by asking others to fake evidence and testimony that would make it appear that Angela had killed herself or wanted to frame him for her death.
He was found guilty of asking his daughter to make a fake video of her mother asking to be poisoned and of trying to get one inmate to kill the lead detective investigating his wife's death, among other things.
Jurors rejected his claim that his wife sought his help in ending her own life.
Toxicology tests determined Ms Craig died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner.
Prosecutors at the district court in Centennial, Araphaoe County, argued Craig wanted to kill his wife to get out of a marriage he felt trapped in, adding he did not want a divorce so he could protect his money and image.
Photos from a hospital security camera seen in court show Craig holding a syringe before he entered Ms Craig's room, prosecutors told the trial.
After administering the fatal dose through her IV, Craig walked out and texted a fellow dentist with whom he was having an affair, Senior Chief Deputy Michael Mauro told jurors in closing arguments. His wife's condition quickly worsened.
Lisa Fine Moses, one of Craig's lawyers, told jurors earlier this week that the image was blurry and syringes that investigators recovered did not contain any poison.
She also said the couple were not in financial trouble, and that Craig's cheating had been going on for years and had never been a motivation for murder.
Craig stood in a hushed courtroom on Wednesday afternoon as the jury delivered a series of guilty verdicts on murder and other charges.
His sentencing came soon after the victim's relatives tearfully testified about the impact of losing her.
Toni Kofoed, Ms Craig's older sister, lamented the loss of phone calls, texts and trips with her sister where they could laugh and talk throughout the night.
'You have taken away our opportunity to grow old together. Her life was not yours to take,″ Ms Kofoed said, addressing the defendant.
'Angela had a love and a passion for life. She loved her children and, unfortunately, she loved you.'
Craig appeared to shake with tears as his oldest daughter spoke about how much she missed being able to talk to her mother about her life and how she felt betrayed by her father.
'I was supposed to be able to trust my dad; he was supposed to be my hero, and instead he'll forever be the villain in my book,' she said.
The dentist declined to make any statement before he was sentenced. He was immediately handcuffed to be led out of the court.
In court, Craig's family members sat on his side of the room and the victim's family sat on the other. But afterward, they hugged each other and shook hands, many wiping tears from their eyes.
Craig did not testify during the two-week trial, and his attorneys did not present other witnesses.
The defence had suggested earlier at trial that Ms Craig may have taken her own life and faulted police for focusing solely on Craig as a suspect.
However, prosecutors said the dentist offered other conflicting explanations for her death to other people.