Ex-marine’s wife died of ‘compression to neck’

The wife of a former Royal Marine who is charged with her murder died of “sustained compression to the neck”, a court has been told.

Stephen Searle, 64, a former Ukip councillor on Suffolk county council, is accused of killing 62-yearold Anne Searle, who was found dead at an address in Stowmarket, Suffolk at 10.30pm on Saturday.

Searle, who is in custody, was not at Ipswich Crown Court for the hearing due to “difficulties on the roads” caused by Storm Eleanor.

The case was adjourned until a trial on June 25.