Accused wife sobs over 'tragic change'

Rena Salmon denies murder

Alleged killer Rena Salmon broke down at the Old Bailey after hearing a friend describe the "tragic" way she changed when her husband left her for a younger woman.

After giving evidence for the prosecution, Deborah Burke left the court mouthing "sorry" to Mrs Salmon, who burst into tears.

Mrs Salmon, 43, from Great Shefford, Berkshire, denies murdering Lorna Stewart, 36, on 10 September 2002.

The prosecution allege Mrs Salmon drove to Ms Stewart's beauty salon in Chiswick, west London, and shot her twice.

Mrs Burke, who was also crying as she left, told the court she had spoken to her friend the day before the shooting and that she was "having a rough time".

"For a husband to have an affair with a best friend is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman," she told the jury.

In the papers

Ms Burke said the conversation turned, saying: "She said 'I have got a gun'. I was quite taken aback.

"She said 'I am not going to kill her, but shoot her here so she could not have any more babies.' Salmon had indicated to her abdomen.

"I said 'You are going to get through this. You are tough'.

"She said: 'If you see anything in the papers it will be me'."

The court heard that after the shooting, Mrs Salmon allegedly told a police officer: "Oh God, I really did it, didn't I?" and started to cry.

'Revenge'

She allegedly added: "I only intended to hurt her like she hurt us.

"He will never forgive me now. He will never forgive me now."

Earlier the jury was told how four days before the shooting, Mrs Salmon tricked a locksmith into opening a gun cabinet by saying her husband had died in a car crash and that she needed some documents.

Another witness, family friend Bill Sims, told the court that Mrs Salmon had said she wanted to "exact revenge" after her husband moved in with Ms Stewart.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.