BBC NEWS Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South
BBCi NEWS   SPORT   WEATHER   WORLD SERVICE   A-Z INDEX     

BBC News World Edition
 You are in: UK: England  
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Education
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
Tuesday, 10 December, 2002, 06:36 GMT
Man denies killing family over affair
Jonathan and Victoria Allen
Jonathan and Victoria Allen vanished in 1975
A bigamist husband accused of murdering his wife and children almost 30 years ago has denied he killed them because of an affair he was having.

Anthony John Allen, 68, is accused of killing his 39-year-old wife Patricia, and their children, seven-year-old Jonathan and five-year-old Victoria, in May 1975.

Mr Allen, of South Western Crescent, Poole, Dorset, admitted to an affair with widow Eunice Yabsley, when he began giving evidence at Exeter Crown Court.

The prosecution alleges he murdered his family so he could be with Ms Yabsley and get his hands on the Galley restaurant that she owned.

Allegations denied

When his defence counsel put the allegations to him, Mr Allen said: "I can understand the suggestion being made, but it is absolutely untrue. I did not at that stage want a long term relationship with Eunice."

The trial earlier heard how he faked his own death in 1967, and wed Patricia while still married to his original wife Monica.

Police inquiries into his family's disappearance began in September, 1975.

In 1977 the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution, but police re-opened the case in 2001 and Mr Allen was charged.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.


Click here to go to Devon

Click here to go to Southampton
See also:

04 Dec 02 | England
03 Dec 02 | England
02 Dec 02 | England
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more England stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East |
South Asia | UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature |
Technology | Health | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes