Herefordshire murder trial - update (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire murder trial - update

9:22am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

A HEREFORDSHIRE undertaker accused of murdering his wife denied having an affair on the night she disappeared, a court heard.

John Taylor told police investigating the disapperance of Alethea that his wife had dementia and had wandered off before going missing on January 19 last year.

Worcester Crown Court heard that officers had found out about 61-year-old Taylor’s relationship with Alison Dearden.

PC Leatte Clarke told the jury that Taylor was asked about the pair and said they were “just friends”.

He said he had “done her husband” which meant he had officiated at the funeral of Mrs Dearden’s partner.

They had then had further contact while he was talking to her about the choice of headstone.

Taylor, from Mortimer Drive, Orleton denies murder.

Sixty three-year-old Alethea, a former primary school teacher who previously lived in Dudley, has never been found.

The jury has already heard from Mrs Dearden who said she and Taylor were having an affair.

They met while involved in a church choir circuit and started a relationship after her husband died.

They split up in May last year, shortly before Taylor's arrest in June.

The trial continues.