Accused husband 'staged robbery'

Fadi Nasri said he had nothing to do with his wife's life insurance

A man accused of murdering his wife for her £350,000 life insurance policy denied that his wife died in a staged robbery arranged by him.

Fadi Nasri, 34, called the suggestion "disgusting" at the Old Bailey, insisting he loved his wife very much.

Nisha Patel-Nasri, a 29-year-old special constable, was stabbed to death outside their home in Wembley, north London on 11 May 2006.

Mr Nasri, from Barnet, and three other men deny her murder.

It is alleged that Nasri's co-accused Jason Jones carried out the murder and was driven to the scene by another man, Tony Emmanuel.

'Macho man'

The policewoman's husband is accused by the Crown of organising the killing via co-defendant Rodger Leslie.

Stephen Kamlish QC, for Mr Emmanuel, suggested to the trial that Mr Nasri was responsible for sending Mr Jones to the address to stage a fake robbery.

Mr Nasri said: "That is absolutely disgusting what you are saying. Why would I want to get my wife robbed? I loved my wife very much."

Mr Kamlish also suggested that the special constable was having an affair, asking: "Were you playing the macho man trying to teach her a lesson?"

Nasri replied: "What for? 100%, no."

He said: "I wasn't having any problems with Nisha."

Rodger Leslie, 38, of Barnet; Tony Emmanuel, 42, of East Ham, east London; and Jason Jones, 36, of Manor Park, east London, also deny murder.

The trial continues.