\n<\/p>\n
In the ruling, Lady Justice May, sitting with Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and Judge Nigel Lickley KC, agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient and said that the murder was “truly appalling”, adding: “We find it hard to conceive of a more heinous plot.”<\/p>\n
It added that Rhodes’ “callous, selfish manipulation” of the child was a “particularly abhorrent aspect of this case”.<\/p>\n
It said that Rhodes “thoroughly warranted a long minimum term”, but that aspects of the case should have further aggravated the sentence.<\/p>\n
Warning: Some readers may find the following details distressing.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n
The retrial at Inner London Crown Court in December heard how Rhodes plotted the murder for months and duped his child into helping him carry out the attack.<\/a><\/p>\n Rhodes murdered his wife in the kitchen of their home near Redhill.<\/p>\n After the killing, he then cut the child and asked them to stab him in the back so he could claim he had been attacked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n