Strangled wife 'taunted' husband

A man accused of murdering his wife was provoked by insults and threats she would take away their triplet sons, a court has heard.

Mark Aldrich, 40, strangled his wife Dilys at their home in Dartford, Kent, in a row over their children, born after IVF treatment.

He told the jury at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday how it had happened after a row on 17 March 2002.

Mr Aldrich, a recruitment consultant, admits killing his wife but denies murder on the grounds that he did not mean to kill her and was provoked.

Brief affair

He told the court he had had no intention of causing his wife's death and could only remember reaching out to grab her and then realising she was dead on the kitchen floor.

The couple had argued the day before, he said, after a walk in the park when three Rottweiler dogs had approached their three sons.

Mr Aldrich said his wife had accused him of being a coward because he did not tell the dogs' owner control his pets.

The former social worker admitted having had a brief affair after the boys were born.

He said on the evening of the alleged murder, Mrs Aldrich, 33, had taunted him and said he and his parents would never see the triplets again.

The court heard that after her death, Mr Aldrich had driven with the three boys to his parents' house in Maresfield, East Sussex.

He then told his mother he had killed his wife.

The trial continues.