Woman tells of her night with murder accused

A WOMAN has told how she spent the night with murder accused Malcolm Webster on his first wedding anniversary, months after the death of his wife.

Geraldine Oakley, 50, told the High Court in Glasgow that, as their relationship developed, she began to suspect he might have killed his wife Claire, 32.

Miss Oakley was giving evidence yesterday at the trial of Webster, 51, who denies murdering first wife Claire by drugging her with Temazepam, crashing his car at Kingoodie, Aberdeenshire on 27 or 28 May, 1994, and setting it on fire.

She told advocate depute Derek Ogg, QC, that she first met Webster in 1993 or 1994. The jury was told that prior to Claire's death, they had been just friends.

When the accident happened, Miss Oakley was away on holiday and she said the first she knew of it was when she met Webster.

The court heard the pair went out for coffee and then Webster invited Miss Oakley to his home. They also went out for meals. She said: "Malcolm seemed keen to progress the relationship."

She told the court that on 3 September, 1994, the anniversary of his wedding to Claire, Webster called and said he didn't want to be alone and she invited him to her house. Mr Ogg asked: "Did you cook for him?" and she replied: "I cooked tagliatelle with smoked salmon. Malcolm thought it was just a starter. He was entertaining. He made a joke and we ended up kissing."

The prosecutor asked if this was the start of their physical relationship. She replied: "He ended up staying the night with me in my room. He just slept with me that night."

The trial continues.