Susan Whiting murder: Suspect 'promised wife toys' if she took rap for brutal killing

Steven Beards, 34, was recorded making a desperate plea to his wife Julie, 35, as they were being driven to Wolverhampton Magistrates Court by police, about to be charged with the murder of 20-year-old Susan Whiting.

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Prosecutor Gareth Evans QC read out the recording to the jury at Leicester Crown Court.

He said Beards told his wife: "Just tell them I wasn't there, alright? You'll get a lighter sentence. Say you had an argument and I wasn't there. I need to look after our stuff, you know what I mean? The police have been at our house.

"I'll keep sending you money in and I'll come and visit you. Can you do this for me bab? I promise when you get out I'll buy all your favourite stuff. Just say it was an accident and you lost your temper. Can you do that bab? You'll have all your toys ready when you come out if you can take this rap for me."

"I can't tell you what I said. I told them the truth."

Steven Beards said: "No wonder they kept me in longer. If I go down you're coming with me. You know that I love you."

She replied: "I haven't done anything wrong."

Julie Beards' police interviews were later heard in court. She said that Miss Whiting, who she had known for two years from adult learning college, had been to her house to watch girly films and make loom bands on August 17, the Sunday before she was found dead.

She said in the interview: "She came round at about 12 or 1pm in the afternoon. We watched a film, made loom bands and played on our tablets. We went to bed at about half past nine that night. I didn't see her the next morning when I got up at half past eight. All her stuff had gone."

This week the jury has also heard from Mrs Beard's friend and neighbour Matthew Herbert that Mr Beards had a controlling influence over his wife and would move very stealthily around her neighbourhood to sneak up on her.

Mr Herbert said: "When I was outside having a cigarette and Julie was on Facebook I actually seen him (Steven) commando across the grass in a fashion like the army do, how they shift across the grass on their front. He was on his tummy crouching. Very low like that."

Sleeping agent Zopiclone was found in Ms Whiting's system after she was found drugged, raped and murdered wrapped in a shower curtain on Tuesday August 18 in Julie Beards' bungalow in Heather Close.

The prosecution has argued Mrs Beards obtained the prescription drug from Mr Herbert and 'experimented' with it on him by lacing his coffee.

In a police interview played to the court Mr Herbert said: "It just seemed to be every time I was having a coffee I tended to get very sleepy after. I could be on my PC with my coffee thinking I can't be bothered to play this now. I don't normally get off it. It goes on in the morning and off at night."

The couple deny murdering Ms Whiting. Steven Beards has also denied a charge of rape.

The trial continues.