Man to stand trial over 1982 death of his wife

AN 88-year-old retired farmer will stand trial next year charged with murdering his wife, whose remains were found in a septic tank in their garden 37 years later.

David Venables is accused of killing 48-yearold wife Brenda Venables between May 2-5, 1982.

He did not speak and sat with his head bowed throughout the 15-minute bail hearing at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

A provisional trial date at Worcester Crown

Court has been set for July 25 next year – five months before Venables turns 90.

He was granted conditional bail until his next court appearance on September 7.

Venables was ordered to provide a residence to the court, told not to apply for a passport or travel documents and not to contact potential witnesses.

Judge Melbourne Inman said: “Obviously this is a very serious and I have to have regard to that and the mandatory sentence that would be served should he be convicted.

“In this case it is very unusual case.

“Mr Venables is 88 years old, he has no previous convictions therefore there is no evidential basis he would fail to attend court, commit further offences or seek to interfere with witnesses and the charge goes back to 1982.

“Mr Venables has the right to bail before a public hearing in early September but it is necessary for me to impose conditions.

“The first will be a condition of residence.

“Before Mr Venables leaves court he will have to supply an address to my clerk together with relevant postal code.

“Secondly Mr Venables must not apply for a passport or travel documents.

“He is not to contact anybody on the list of witnesses that will be supplied to him.”