'Hidden body' trial set to last 5 weeks

The trial of a man accused of murdering his wife and hiding her body in a basement is expected to run for five weeks, a court has heard.

Harry Jarvis, 60, is charged with killing 47-year-old Carol Jarvis at her home in Bathgate, West Lothian, last September.

Co-accused Rita Heyster, 56, also faces the same murder charge. The pair deny the charges against them.

They appeared before judge Lord Kinclaven at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, where their trial was fixed to begin on 31 January next year. The court heard the date may still be subject to change depending on the progress of defence preparations for the trial, which is to be heard in Edinburgh.

Jarvis and Heyster are accused of murdering Mrs Jarvis "by means unknown" between 11 and 15 September 2009 and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Prosecutors allege that Mrs Jarvis's body was wrapped in a blanket and parcel tape before being concealed in the basement of the house in Balbardie Crescent.

Jarvis is accused of telling police and his own relatives that his wife was elsewhere to make them think she was still alive.