Murder plot accused denied accusations in interview

Allen and Margaret Morgan have denied conspiracy to murder

A woman accused of plotting the murder of her husband's then-wife over 40 years ago steadfastly denied the accusations during police interviews, a court heard.

The body of 36-year-old Carol Morgan was found in her shop, Morgan's Store, in Linslade, Bedfordshire, on 13 August 1981.

Married couple Allen Morgan, 73, and Margaret Morgan, 75, now of Brighton, are on trial and deny conspiracy to murder.

Jurors at Luton Crown Court were shown footage of Margaret Morgan denying any involvement during a 2021 interview with Bedfordshire Police.

"I categorically have nothing to do with it," she told them.

The interviews were shown as prosecutors presented their final pieces of evidence.

The jury was also shown newspaper clippings in the days and months after the murder, as well as recordings of brief conversations between the two defendants while in police vehicles.

Mr and Mrs Morgan, of Stanstead Crescent in Woodingdean, will not appear in the witness box at their trial and closing speeches from the prosecution and defence are expected to be made soon.

Carol Morgan was found at her shop in Linslade, Bedfordshire, in 1981

In the footage of Margaret Morgan's police interview on 1 July 2021, she was asked how soon her affair with Allen Morgan began after he and Carol moved to Linslade in December 1979.

Margaret replied: "[Within] months, I would imagine, because I didn't even know that little shop was there.

"Allen drove by; I believe he was on a delivery to someone on the estate. He stopped and chatted. He said 'if you need any help, I'm here'."

An officer asked: "That was the start of it?"

Mrs Morgan replied: "No, originally, it was purely a friendship.

"It started off as a silly little fling and developed into something more serious."

She also said that she befriended Carol and helped introduce her to the neighbourhood in Linslade, near Leighton Buzzard, where she and her then husband Mike Spooner had been living for five or six years.

In another interview shown to the jury, police put to Mrs Morgan that she was involved in planning Carol's murder.

She said: "No. I've never been involved in conspiracy or murder or whatever you want to call it."

Police then asked what had kept the two of them together for over 40 years. She replied they had shared interests such as golf, and that she helped care for him.

The officer said: "Is it not the fact that you both know what happened to Carol and why?"

She said: "No, I only know what you guys have told me."

The trial, which began in April, continues.