Accused claims breach of confidentiality

MURDER accused Malcolm Webster wrote a letter of complaint to the chief constable of Grampian Police after the force gave information to authorities in New Zealand, the High Court in Glasgow heard yesterday.

Webster ended the letter, which he wrote in 2000, by saying: "I have no criminal record and frankly find it ridiculous to suggest I might commit a crime."

The letter was shown to Detective Constable William Clark, who was giving evidence as Webster denies murdering his first wife, Claire, 32, in a car crash in Aberdeenshire in 1994.

Webster, 51, from Guildford, Surrey, also denies trying to kill his second wife, Felicity Drumm, 50, by drugging her and staging a car crash in New Zealand in 1999.

He is also alleged to have formed a fraudulent scheme between 2004 and 2008 to enter into a bigamous marriage with Simone Banerjee to get access to her estate.

Prosecuting, advocate depute Derek Ogg, QC, showed DC Clark the letter and asked: "Was there a complaint about breach of confidentiality by Grampian Police?" He replied: "Yes."

Also giving evidence yesterday, nurse Jillian Mackie told the court Webster had told her it would be easy for a nurse to steal controlled drugs.

The trial before Lord Bannatyne continues.