Bella Devere (originally Annabel Weston) is a character appearing in the episode Judgement Day of the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.
An apparent sociopath, as a child, Annabel Weston perpetrated an infamous stabbing murder of her babysitter when still under the age of ten and spent much of her life in a mental institution. Released as an adult, she married Marcus Devere who knew who she was and helped hide it.
When her daughter Caroline Devere became involved with the unsuitable Peter Drinkwater, Bella pointedly made sure it would no longer be an issue. After seeing Caroline, outside their house crying, she drove to Windy Whistle Farm and stabbed Peter with a pitchfork.
On Judgement Day, one of the judges was Samantha Johnstone who stepped in at the last moment when another judge cancelled. Samantha was Bella's friend from her days in care at Sebdon Manor, often referred to as "The Retreat". Knowing that Samantha could call her out or let slip who she was, Bella made an excuse to head back to the tent and poison a bottle of wine, intending to serve it to Samantha, this attempt failed as Rosemary Furman got to the wine first. Bella had consumed a tiny dose as well to throw off suspicion and destroy the rest of the doctored wine. She later stabbed Samantha in the hotel where she was staying before she could betray Bella.
Eventually, her husband, unable to contemplate the idea of her being incarcerated for the rest of her life, gave Bella multiple sleeping pills and then smothered her with a pillow.
Victims[]
- Mrs. Foster - Stabbed repeatedly with a butcher's knife in 1955.
- Peter Drinkwater - Impaled in the chest with a pitchfork from his farm.
- Rosemary Furman - Drank wine poisoned with cyanide. (Not the intended victim)
- Samantha Johnstone - Stabbed in the back with a knife.