Mercedes affair murder jury out

Kirsty Wilson's body was set alight with petrol, the court has heard

The jury in the trial of a man accused of strangling his partner after he found out she planned to leave him has retired to consider its verdict.

Alan Jermey, 41, denies murdering 34-year-old Kirsty Wilson and setting fire to her body at their home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year.

He has told the Old Bailey how he was "shocked" by the death of Ms Wilson.

The court also heard that Ms Wilson had an affair with Simon Goddard, her boss, at a dealership in Hampshire.

The jury had previously been told Ms Wilson was planning to leave Mr Jermey, who is a car salesman, and their house in Greenmeads was about to be put on the market.

The prosecution has claimed that after setting Mercedes executive Miss Wilson's body alight with petrol Mr Jermey took the couple's two daughters on to a flat roof, the court has heard.

He rang emergency services but did not mention his partner was still inside the building until two minutes into the call.

But Mr Jermey told the jury his first thoughts were for his children when he was woken by an explosion at the Woking family home.

He said he was shocked and wanted to scream when an ambulance crew member whispered to him that Ms Wilson had died.