Huge police search finds no sign of Alethea Taylor, murder trial told
An extensive police investigation to trace a missing retired primary school teacher has thrown up no indications she is still alive, a court heard.
John Taylor is standing trial at Worcester Crown Court for the murder of his wife Alethea.
Police believe he killed the 63-year-old at the home they shared in Mortimer Drive, Orleton, near Ludlow, before disposing of her body. Taylor, 61, reported Mrs Taylor missing on January 19 last year and she has not been seen since.
Detective Sergeant Enrique Real, of West Mercia Police, took to the stand yesterday to tell the jury about the long-standing search.
He told the jury extensive checks had been made with banks and building societies, family and friends, hospitals and health organisations, utilities firms, councils, charities, mobile phone companies, ferry operators and hostels up and down the UK.
He said they revealed nothing of her whereabouts – and told the court not a penny had gone from several bank accounts and ISAs since she went missing, despite there being nearly £100,000 at her disposal.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Michael Burrows asked him: "From all the inquiries that you have made, have you had any response to indicate that Alethea Taylor is alive since the time of her disappearance?"
"None whatsoever," he replied.
Defence counsel Mr Ignatius Hughes QC, cross-examining Det Sgt Real, asked the officer about two different sightings of Mrs Taylor. He said a neighbour of the couple, Diane Swanick, had told police she had seen Mrs Taylor walking from her home just before 9am on the day of her disappearance – after Taylor had already left.
Andrew Lewis, told police he was '65 to 75 per cent sure' he had seen Mrs Taylor after seeing her picture on Facebook.
The court heard the sightings, along with 27 others, had been discounted by officers.
Det Sgt Real said: "If it was Alethea, you would expect there to be a footprint elsewhere. You would expect her to have gone to a bank, for instance."
The court had earlier heard Taylor had a lover, Alison Dearden, from the village of Brimfield, with whom he had begun an affair six months before the disappearance.
The case for the prosecution was expected to be concluded later today.
The trial continues.
