ALFRED — Darlene George was sentenced Monday to 40 years in prison for the murder of her husband Winston George in June 2008 in their Old Orchard Beach home. Her brother, Jeffrey Williams, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.

Both also received a 30-year sentence for conspiracy to murder, which they will serve concurrently with their murder sentences.

Darlene George, 45, along with Williams, and her lover, Rennie Cassimy, plotted a staged home invasion at the George residence on Smithwheel Road in Old Orchard Beach in 2008. Williams and Cassimy came from New York to Old Orchard Beach to carry out the plan.

George and her son, Giovanni Whiteman, then 13 years old, were tied up in a bedroom as Winston George was attacked, tied up and strangled.

Winston George was found dead of asphyxiation on June 20, 2008 in the basement of his home. He was found tied up with a bag over his head and a bottle of rum shoved in his mouth.

Cassimy pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to murder. As a result, a charge of murder was dropped, and in July he received an eight-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal.

“This was a particularly grisly murder, for sure,” said Justice G. Arthur Brennan in York County Superior Court on Monday.

And although Darlene George was not the one who physically killed her husband, she was the mastermind behind his murder, said Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea.

“It was her plan. She wanted him out of the picture,” said Zainea, who said George was motivated by her own financial gain. “She didn’t want to give up what she had.”

During the trial, prior to the sentencing, prosecutors had portrayed Darlene George as wanting to be the sole owner of the couple’s five properties.

Zainea said the murder also put Whiteman “at risk of physical harm.”

Whiteman wanted to help his stepfather and heard him say his last prayers, said Zainea.

Williams has had a history of criminal behavior since 1985, and was violating parole when he came to Maine, said Zainea.

Brennan said there were mitigating factors that led to a lighter sentence for Darlene George. She had no prior criminal record, had a good work history, was a good mother and was helpful to others in prison.

Both Williams and Darlene George maintained their innocence in court Monday.

Darlene George described herself as a financially independent woman who never “depended on any man for anything.”

She also said she and her husband were working together to “move toward the future, not to separate.”

“I want to make one thing very clear. I loved my husband very much,” said Darlene George.

Winston George’s sister, Annmarie George, described Darlene George as a dangerous person who “should never be allowed to see the light of day.”

“The woman who sits before you is a monster,” she said.

Winston George’s brother, Whitfield, described Winston George as a loving person who would give someone the shirt off his back.

“She took away the best person that I’ve ever known in life,” he said.

Winston George’s ex-wife, Dana Gould, described Winston George as a man from humble beginnings who moved to this country from Trinidad and Tobago and worked hard to provide for his family and give his mother an easier life.

Brennan said that Winston George sounded like a person who was hard worker and a good friend. He said if Darlene hadn’t wanted to stay married to him, she could have divorced him.

“It’s just such a tragedy for everyone involved that the alternative wasn’t pursued,” said Brennan.

The situation, said Brennan, has made Whiteman “effectively an orphan.”

“I suspect this will haunt him for the rest of his days,” he said.

Whitfield George said the family was happy with a life sentence for Williams.

“He’s the guy who put his hands on my brother,” he said.

Although the family had hoped for a longer sentence for Darlene George, Whitfield George said he was content with her sentence. She will have to pay in two ways, he said, “by the court system” and “by God,” and she will be an old woman when she gets out of jail.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.