Man accused of murder 'got date of wife's death wrong'

MURDER accused Malcolm Webster got the date of his wife's death wrong in a note sent to one of her oldest friends, a court heard yesterday.

Malcolm Webster, 51, denies murdering first wife Claire by drugging her, crashing his car on the Auchenhuive to Tarves Road in Aberdeenshire on 27 or 28 May, 1994, and setting it on fire.

The jury was read a letter sent by Webster from Saudi Arabia to one of Claire's school friends, Susan Dolby, 45, on 3 April, 1995 in which he said: "Life over here remains the same. I miss Claire more each week. Maybe that is because I am away or that 26th May is getting nearer, I really don't know."

Mrs Dolby, who lives in Surrey, was asked by advocate depute Derek Ogg QC: "Did you know that Claire's death was on May 27 or 28?" and replied: "No I didn't."

She added she had asked Webster to be her daughter's godparent. The court heard that the baby was born the year after Claire died.

Mrs Dolby said: " I remember him saying due to the accident he didn't believe in God and didn't think it would be appropriate." Webster also said in the letter: "I miss Claire so much I don't think I'd be very good at anything at the moment."

Mr Ogg then asked her: "Had he told you about relationships with various people?" and she said: "He made no mention in these letters."

Webster also denies trying to kill his second wife, Felicity Drumm in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1999 to cash in on their life insurance.

He is also alleged to have formed a fraudulent scheme between 2004 and 2008 to enter into a bigamous marriage with lover Simone Banarjee to get access to her estate. Webster denies all the charges.

The trial before judge Lord Bannatyne continues.