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A man has been jailed for life today after being found guilty of murdering a Coventry woman whose body was found in a wheelie bin.

Lidia Pascale, aged 26, who lived at addresses in Foleshill and West Bromwich, was bludgeoned to death and wrapped in a black bin liner last November.

Jurors today found Matthew Cherrington, aged 32, from West Bromwich, guilty of her murder.

Birmingham Crown Court had previously heard that Lidia had visited Cherrington’s home on November 19 last year.

It was there he murdered her before dumping her body.

After jurors returned a guilty verdict this morning, Cherrington was brought back before the court for sentencing this afternoon, where he was told he must serve a minimum of 19 years behind bars.

The court had heard that a trail of forensic evidence confirmed Cherrington’s guilt; Lidia’s body had been put in a black bin liner and a fingerprint on the liner was identified as Cherrington’s. On top of the body was a small carrier bag containing a foil pipe, which after testing, had Cherrington’s DNA and a fingerprint on together with a cigarette end.

Lidia, who was originally from Tulcea in Romania, had arranged to meet Cherrington via text messages at his address in West Bromwich. She had been in the UK for about a year and lived at addresses in Smethwick and Foleshill in Coventry.

Detective Inspector Jim Munro, from West Midlands Police CID, said: “Despite Cherrington’s extensive lies throughout the investigation, the forensic evidence was able to link him to Lidia’s death and the disposal of her body.

“I hope that Lidia’s family will find some comfort in today’s verdict and the lengthy sentence he has been handed this afternoon."