A STOURPORT woman and man accused of murder after a man's body was found in the River Severn have denied the charge.

Reginald Southall, a 62-year-old lorry driver, died from drowning but had suffered multiple injuries to his head and body.

He was discovered in the river on December 16 last year, 12 days after he disappeared.

In the dock at Worcester Crown Court today were his wife, Muriel, 60, of Stourport Caravan Park, Redstone Lane, and 59-year-old Michael Whitcombe, of Four Acres Caravan Park, Worcester Road, Stourport.

They both denied murder on December 4 last year and pleaded not guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice by withholding information and making false statements to police about the victim's disappearance and death.

Mrs Southall and Whitcombe used court hearing aids to listen to the 30-minutes proceedings.

Judge Alistair McCreath remanded them both in custody and fixed the trial - which may take up to six weeks - to begin on February 24 next year.

The evidence from 2,500 pages of statements includes mobile telephone traffic, CCTV film footage and river flow analysis.

Prosecutor Tim Raggatt QC said a hat recently recovered and drug ingestion evidence may also form part of the trial.

The case will be heard by High Court judge Mr Justice Treacy.