Kevin Chandler, son of murder victim Karen ChandlerGRANDFATHER Bryan Maloney, who was acquitted of the murder of Karen Chandler, has died of a heart attack, aged 67.

After a jury at Bristol Crown Court found Mr Maloney innocent in 2001, police issued a statement saying they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death of mother-of-two Mrs Chandler.

Her son Kevin considered taking civil action against Mr Maloney but did not pursue the case.

Yesterday, a still bitter Kevin Chandler, 24, Mrs Chandler's younger son, said: "Death is too good for him. I wanted him to serve life in prison for what he did to mum. He should have been locked up and forced to reflect on it every day. Even the death penalty would have been too good for him.

"But I think he's had a miserable life since the trial and I like to think it brought on his heart attack. I would have liked him to have made a written confession to seal it, but in my mind I know that he did it."

Mr Maloney, who had been suffering with a heart complaint and was due to undergo a heart bypass operation, was a self employed gardener.

On Saturday morning he had gone to one of his customers in Compton Bassett, near Calne, with his 15-year-old grandson, Jonathan, and the two were eating lunch in Mr Maloney's van when the older man slumped over.

Jonathan alerted the householder who called the ambulance and Mr Maloney was airlifted to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. By the time his family arrived at his bedside Mr Maloney had died.

His funeral will take place on Tuesday at 10.30am at St Michael and All Angels Church, Urchfont.

His widow, Gwen, said: "Bryan was a workaholic. He had been told to take it easy but that was never his way. He wouldn't let customers down."

The Maloneys have lived in Urchfont for nearly 30 years, ever since Mr Maloney moved from Tisbury to take up a job working for local farmer John Snook. The family is popular in the village and received a lot of support during the trial.

Mr Maloney leaves three grown up children, Kim, Dawn and Derek, and five grandchildren.

At his trial in October 2001 the Crown alleged Mr Maloney was obsessed with 40-year-old Mrs Chandler, who he had met with her husband, Stephen, when they moved to Newsyde Farm, Urchfont, in 1990.

The trial was told he had showered her with gifts. The Crown alleged he killed Mrs Chandler because he was jealous that she had a younger boyfriend, soldier Craig Corfield.

The court heard Mr Maloney telephoned Mrs Chandler at about 4am on June 20 2000 and told her he had buckets for her which she wanted.

It was arranged that she would pick them up as she drove through Urchfont on her way to work at the Defence Vehicle Depot in Ludgershall.

Mr Maloney said Mrs Chandler did not come by.

Mrs Chandler did not arrive at work and her burnt-out car containing her body was found three days later on Salisbury Plain near Urchfont.

Mrs Chandler's blood was found on Mr Maloney's underpants and vest and he said it had got there after Mrs Chandler pricked her finger while helping him to plant a rose bush at her workplace two Sundays before she disappeared.

While giving evidence in court Mr Maloney admitted he loved Mrs Chandler but said he was not obsessed with her.

The jury acquitted Mr Maloney after deliberating for eight hours and 25 minutes.

After his acquittal Mr Maloney told the Gazette he was innocent of Mrs Chandler's murder.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters recorded a verdict of unlawful killing when he conducted the inquest into Mrs Chandler's death.

Kevin Chandler said his family including his elder brother Robert, 27, a mechanic in Devizes, his father Stephen, who lives in France, and his grandmother, Hazel Ball, who lives in Gozo, were all convinced of Mr Maloney's guilt.

Mr Chandler said he had thrown himself into work as a chef to stop himself being consumed about his mother's murder. He lived with his mother in West Lavington at the time of her murder but has recently moved.

He said: "Everybody was shocked when Bryan got away with it. The police worked very hard and got a lot of evidence.

"I think the jury looked at Bryan and thought he was a pitiful and pathetic man who couldn't murder my mother.

"After the verdict I won't deny that I wanted to kill Bryan but in the eyes of the law that makes me as bad as him."

Mr Chandler added: "Since the trial I have buried myself in my work. My outlook on life has changed and it's made me a stronger person. I want to achieve things in my life.

"I always wanted to make mum proud of me and sometimes when I get angry about Bryan getting off I look up and think of mum. She would be the first to tell me not to get upset about it."