Andrew Griggs 'murdered pregnant wife in 1999'

Andrew Griggs is accused of murdering his wife Debbie Griggs 20 years ago

A "keen sailor" murdered his pregnant wife and disposed of her body twenty years ago, a court heard.

Andrew Griggs, 57, is alleged to have killed mother-of-three Debbie Griggs in May 1999.

Mrs Griggs "disappeared" from the family home in Deal, Kent, aged 34 and was never seen again. Her body has not been found.

Mr Griggs, of St Leonards, Dorset, denies murder and the trial at Canterbury Crown Court continues.

Debbie Griggs has not been since May 1999

Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, said the couple's marriage "had been going through difficulties" as Mrs Griggs suspected her husband was seeing a 15-year-old girl at the time she disappeared.

The jury heard Mr Griggs, who was the last person to see his wife alive and well, had told a local tradesman he "wished she was dead" and had threatened to "get her sorted".

Mr Atkinson said he had also complained to welder Peter Monks of the "trouble he was having at home" and said "he was having problems with money in relation to his wife".

He added Mr Griggs had said his wife had wanted to leave him and take half the freezer shop they co-owned.

'Blood in car'

Mr Atkinson said Mrs Griggs' white Peugeot 309 was found 1.3 miles (3km) away from her home, several days after she disappeared.

Police found a "smear of blood" matching the DNA of Mrs Griggs in the boot of the car, the jury was told.

"The prosecution case is that Debbie Griggs did not just up and leave her husband and children in the middle of the night, never to be seen or heard of again," Mr Atkinson added.

"She was a devoted mother who would not have just abandoned her children. She would, if alive, have required medical help with her pregnancy."

Mrs Griggs was pregnant with the couple's fourth child, which was due to be born in September 1999, the court heard.

She told friends her husband had "denied paternity and accused her of being unfaithful," Mr Atkinson said.

Although her husband had never hit her, Mrs Griggs had said she had on occasion "been genuinely in fear that he was going to hit me", the court heard.

'Sick and mad'

In March 1999, amid "marital difficulties", Mr Griggs opened a new business bank account for their shop, Griggs Freezer Centre in South Street Deal, in his name alone, the jury was told.

He then closed the joint business account "a process that was completed on 6 May 1999, the day after Debbie Griggs disappeared", the jury was told.

Extracts of Mrs Griggs' diary were read to the court, in which she complained her husband had accused her of being "sick and mad in the head" and spent most evenings out of the house.

"He spent more time with [a] 15-year-old child," one excerpt read.

Mr Atkinson told the court both Mr and Mrs Griggs had sought "non molestation orders" from a county court during a period of separation in early 1999.

In an affidavit, Mrs Griggs wrote: "He does not consider I have any rights of my own. He is quite old fashioned in his approach.

"He expects me to care for the children, cook for the children, cook for him at a later time."

The trial is due to last up to five weeks.

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