Murder trial switched to Wolverhampton (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Murder trial switched to Wolverhampton

4:14pm Friday 20th June 2008

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THE trial of a Stourport couple accused of murder has been switched from Worcester and will take place at Wolverhampton Crown Court in February next year.

Muriel Southall, 59, of Stourport Caravan Park, and Michael Whitcombe, 58, of Four Acres Caravan Park, Worcester Road, Stourport, are charged with the murder of 62-year-old Reginald Southall in December last year.

The body of lorry driver Mr Southall, who was married to the accused, was found in the River Severn on December 16, 12 days after he disappeared.

A post mortem established he died from drowning but he had suffered from multiple injuries to his head and body.

The case was set down for a hearing at Worcester Crown Court yesterday for pleas to be entered but these were not taken when it was decided to move the trial to Wolverhampton.

Judge Alistair McCreath remanded the accused in custody.

Prosecuting counsel Andrew Lockhart said the trial, scheduled to begin on February 24, was likely to take five to six weeks.

The voluminous papers included 2,500 pages of statements.

He added that there was likely to be a good deal of expert evidence.

This would include mobile telephone traffic, computer analysis and evidence from pathologists, forensic scientists and an oceanographer dealing with river flow.

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