Driver 'killed by wife in plot'

A Black Country lorry driver was murdered by his wife and her lover, a court was told today.

The body of 62-year-old Reginald Southall was found in the river by a fisherman on December 16, 2007, said Mr Tim Raggatt QC.

A post mortem established that he had received severe injuries.

Mr Raggatt alleged Mr Southall was murdered in a joint enterprise by his wife, 60-year-old Muriel Southall and Michael Whitcombe, aged 59.

Southall, pictured, of Stourport Caravan Park, Redstone Lane, and Whitcombe, of Four Acres Caravan Park, Worcester Road, both Stourport, deny the murder of Mr Southall on December 4.

They also deny attempting to pervert the course of justice by withholding information and making false statements to the police.

Mr Raggatt told Worcester Crown Court lorry driver Mr Southall would have been unconscious when he went in the water and could not swim. He added: "We will prove he was done to death as part of a plan that was hatched quite late in the day. It was done for two of the oldest reasons for crime – sex and money."

Mr Southall was a driver at Boswell's of Halesowen and livd at Pensnett before moving to Stourport.Whitcombe had been warden of Stourport Caravan Park.