Husband ‘changes mind’ and admits murder of wife

A two-week trial had been due to start at the Old Bailey on Monday

A man accused of the murder of his wife has changed his plea to guilty on the day his trial was due to begin at the Old Bailey.

The body of Shane Simmonds's wife Tia was found underneath some clothing in the converted attic of the couple's home in Forest Hill, south-east London, on 3 January.

The prospective panel of jurors for his trial was called into court and told by Judge Philip Katz KC that the 39-year-old defendant had “changed his mind” about having a trial and pleaded guilty in their absence.

Judge Katz told the jurors their role “was now over” and that a life term would be given to Simmonds, who will be sentenced on 17 October.

'Largely unexplained'

At a hearing in August, Simmonds had admitted the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of his 32-year-old wife, but this plea was not accepted by the prosecution.

He also previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in relation to a separate woman.

Simmonds’s barrister, Jonathan Higgs KC, said: “He has discussed matters with us today and with the approach of the day (of the trial) and through me he invites the court to ask him to be re-arraigned.”

After the guilty plea Mr Higgs said: “It’s a very disturbing case and one that remains in terms of his motivation very largely unexplained.”