Married couple murdered

Fentanyl mixed with medication: 37 years in prison

Almost 80,000 Americans die every year from the painkiller fentanyl. Now the artificially produced opiate, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin, is gaining a foothold in Europe.(Bild: Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian via AP (Symbolbild))

A 34-year-old man in the UK has been sentenced to life imprisonment for double murder. He had killed a married couple with the extremely strong opioid fentanyl in order to take over their business.

The court in the eastern English city of Chelmsford ruled on Friday that the 34-year-old must spend at least 37 years in prison before he is eligible for release.

The man planned to take over the couple's shower mat and bathroom accessories business. He was employed there.

After killing the couple, he changed the wills of the 64-year-old woman and the 61-year-old man. During the autopsy of the bodies, however, fentanyl was found in the bodies - which is around 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. The 34-year-old came under suspicion and was arrested.

Jury knew no mercy
He had mixed the dangerous substance into the couple's medication and made sure that they took it. He denied the crime in court, but was unanimously found guilty by a jury.