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Sian Rees murder: Body 'found in van after crash' | Sian Rees murder: Body 'found in van after crash' |
(40 minutes later) | |
The murder of a Devon solicitor was discovered after her partner crashed his van while trying to dispose of her body, Exeter Crown Court has heard. | The murder of a Devon solicitor was discovered after her partner crashed his van while trying to dispose of her body, Exeter Crown Court has heard. |
John Doyle, 54, of Merton Mill, Merton, has denied killing his partner of 14 years, Sian Rees. | John Doyle, 54, of Merton Mill, Merton, has denied killing his partner of 14 years, Sian Rees. |
Her body was found in the van on 1 July after it crashed on the A386 near Hatherleigh following a punctured tyre. | Her body was found in the van on 1 July after it crashed on the A386 near Hatherleigh following a punctured tyre. |
Prosecutors told the court the couple rowed after Mr Doyle got drunk while Miss Rees underwent cancer treatment. | Prosecutors told the court the couple rowed after Mr Doyle got drunk while Miss Rees underwent cancer treatment. |
The court heard Mr Doyle turned up late to collect Ms Rees who had undergone surgery for breast cancer, and had been drinking. | The court heard Mr Doyle turned up late to collect Ms Rees who had undergone surgery for breast cancer, and had been drinking. |
'Painful ordeal' | 'Painful ordeal' |
Going against medical advice she drove them both home. On the way she booked herself into a hotel to spend the night. | Going against medical advice she drove them both home. On the way she booked herself into a hotel to spend the night. |
She continued to drive Mr Doyle to their Merton property so she could collect some belongings. | She continued to drive Mr Doyle to their Merton property so she could collect some belongings. |
The court heard she never returned to the hotel. | The court heard she never returned to the hotel. |
The prosecution alleges that Ms Rees, 50, who was originally from Aberdare in south Wales, was stabbed in the abdomen and strangled in the kitchen of their home. | |
As Mr Doyle drove to dispose of her body, his Ford Fiesta van clipped a traffic island puncturing a tyre and causing the vehicle to crash, the court heard. | As Mr Doyle drove to dispose of her body, his Ford Fiesta van clipped a traffic island puncturing a tyre and causing the vehicle to crash, the court heard. |
The body of Ms Rees was discovered between the front seats of the vehicle after the crash. | The body of Ms Rees was discovered between the front seats of the vehicle after the crash. |
Tests on her body showed she had been strangled and had died about 12 hours before the crash at 10:00 BST on 1 July. | Tests on her body showed she had been strangled and had died about 12 hours before the crash at 10:00 BST on 1 July. |
Paul Dunkels QC said: "It would have been a frightening and painful ordeal for her. | |
"There is no doubt she would have struggled to save herself, a struggle which we suggest is likely to have been painful for her after the operation she had undergone that day." | "There is no doubt she would have struggled to save herself, a struggle which we suggest is likely to have been painful for her after the operation she had undergone that day." |
The trial heard that in the months before her death, Ms Rees had told her colleagues that she wanted to end the relationship. | |
Mr Doyle was also said to be angry at the amount of weight she had put on and had discovered she had been exchanging emails with a man she met online. | |
The court heard that Mr Doyle was "confused" at the crash scene and refused to answer questions during police interviews. | |
Instead he issued a statement admitting rowing with Ms Rees and struggling with her as she held a knife, but saying he did not remember anything else. | |
He added he believed he had her in the van because he was on the way to a hospital. | |
Mr Dunkels said: "He knew she was dead. He was trying to take her body to a place where he could conceal it." | |
The case continues. | The case continues. |
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