Ian Broadhurst was shot after checking a suspected stolen car

On Thursday, 38-year-old former US marine David Bieber was given a life sentence for the policeman's murder.

Eilisa Broadhurst, 25, told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I can still hear his voice now, his American accent, and I hate him so much."

Bieber was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Pcs Neil Roper and James Banks.

Mr Broadhurst, 34, was killed while checking a BMW car which he suspected had been stolen.

Bieber shot him and his two colleagues and then fired the fatal bullet while his victim was lying on the ground injured.

Ian walked out of the house and out of our lives Eilisa Broadhurst

Mrs Broadhurst says she was pleased Bieber has been given a "whole life" sentence for her husband's murder.

She said: "I cried with relief when he was sentenced to life.

"I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders."

She last saw her husband as he left his mother's house where the couple were attending a Christmas get-together.

Mrs Broadhurst said: "My last thoughts of Ian was we were sat together watching a film on TV. We were happy and laughing.

"Halfway through he said he had to go on duty. He walked out of the house and out of our lives."

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court took just three hours to convict Bieber of shooting the three officers.

It later emerged he is wanted by police in Florida over a plot to hire a hitman to kill a love rival.