Express & Star

Susan Whiting murder: I didn't help kill her, wife claims

A murder suspect's claim that she lied to police about a body found under her bed because she was scared of her co-accused husband has been 'exaggerated', a court heard.

Published
Susan Whiting, aged 20, was raped and murdered in Bloxwich

Julie Beards told officers 20-year-old Walsall woman Susan Whiting had left the morning after staying the night at her bungalow — when she was really dead in her bedroom.

The 35-year-old suspect has since admitted the lie and helping husband Steven move the body under her bed, claiming she was scared he would kill her if she refused.

But at Leicester Crown Court yesterday, prosecuting Gareth Evans QC suggested there was no reason for her to feel scared.

"You could have locked your bungalow door when he was out and phoned the police and told them wicked Steven had done this to Susan," he asked Mrs Beards.

"When all the police came around your bungalow before you were arrested you could have said to one of them 'he done it'. You were surrounded by police, weren't you? Why didn't you do that?"

"Scared," she answered.

"What were you scared of, the police were there?" he continued.

"I don't know," she replied.

Miss Whiting's body was discovered on August 17 at Mrs Beard's bungalow in Heather Close, Bloxwich, wrapped in a shower curtain with a black bin bag covering her face. She had been drugged, raped and murdered.

A post mortem revealed she was struck to the head at least three times.

Mrs Beards has told the jury she went to have a shower leaving Miss Whiting sleeping in her room and when she returned found her husband standing over her dead body.

Mr Evans also questioned Mrs Beard's alleged fear of her husband given she told police he had previously attempted to drug her, that he had been violent towards her and that he had tried to strangle her.

"I suggest your fear of Steven is exaggerated," he said." You are making it seem worse than it actually was."

The prosecutor also questioned whether Mr Beards, 34, of Rowlands Avenue, could have carried out the murder and wrapped up Miss Whiting's body without another's help, as is alleged by Mrs Beards.

He said: "Steven has gone and got the shower curtain, he has wrapped her in the shower curtain, then he has bound the curtain with three ties, knotted those, and then put a plastic bag over her head.

"He has done all of that on his own you say?

"But if she was on the camp bed, as you told us, Steven could not have moved her around and wrapped her up in the curtain.

"We know there were ties around the curtain. To do that needs two people."

Mrs Beards, replied: "I didn't do it."

The jury has previously been told that Julie Beards had acquired the drug found in Susan's body from a neighbour and tested it on him for around four weeks.

Former friend of the defendant Matthew Herbert, has told the court that he had stopped taking his prescription of sleeping agent zopiclone but in the four weeks leading up to Susan's death found himself becoming incredibly sleepy after Julie would make him a coffee at his home.

The couple both deny murder. Mr Beards also denies rape.

The trial, which is in its third week, continues.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.