Husband killed for sex and money
A cheating wife and her secret lover murdered her husband of more than 40 years for "sex and money", a court has heard.
A cheating wife and her secret lover murdered her husband of more than 40 years for "sex and money", a court has heard.
Black Country lorry driver Reginald Southall, aged 62, was subjected to "severe violence" before being dumped into the murky river Severn where he drowned, a jury heard.
The grandfather was killed after his wife duped him out of £20,000 of their joint savings, Worcester Crown Court was told.
His wife Muriel, 60, of Stourport Caravan Park, Redstone Lane, Stourport, and Michael Whitcombe, 59, of Four Acres Caravan Park, Worcester Road, Stourport, plead not guilty to murder.
They also deny withholding information from the police and making false statements.
Mr Tim Raggatt QC, prosecuting, believes the pair had embarked on a joint enterprise. Mr Southall had been "done to death" as part of a plan.
He added: "It was done for two of the oldest reasons for crime – sex and money."
Mr Southall disappeared on December 4, 2007, and his body was not spotted in the river by a fisherman until December 16.
The Southalls had been married for more than 40 years and had a son and three grandchildren.
Mr Southall was planning to retire in 2008 from his job with Boswells, of Halesowen, so they sold their house in Pensnett for £100,000 and bought the mobile home in Stourport for £50,000 in 2007.
Whitcombe had been the site warden and, after his wife Diane died in 2006, he became friendly with the Southalls. He and Mrs Southall fell in love and embarked on an intimate affair.
In October 2007, the lovers bought a caravan costing £39,500 on the Four Acres site. She secretly withdrew £20,000 from the family nest egg to fund the purchase.
Her husband did not realise that his and his wife's money was being used to buy the caravan.
"He was duped," said Mr Raggatt.
Southall maintained she was not having an illicit affair. At one stage she told police her marriage was fine.
Yet on December 15, the day before her husband's body was discovered, she sent a text to Whitcombe saying: "I love you. From your sex pet." He replied: "Love you too."
Mr Southall had extensive head injuries and broken ribs. Experts on river flow said they could not have been caused by objects in the water.
The trial is expected to last six weeks.
