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Man guilty of missing wife murder | Man guilty of missing wife murder |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man has been convicted of murdering his wife who went missing four years ago and whose body has not been found. | A man has been convicted of murdering his wife who went missing four years ago and whose body has not been found. |
Tina Baker, 41, was last seen in 2002 leaving her new lover's home to feed animals at the farm in Chobham, Surrey, which she had shared with her husband. | |
Police inquiries included seeing if her remains had been fed to their pigs. | |
Martin Baker, 54, of Ayebridges Avenue, Egham, denied killing her, saying he knew nothing of her disappearance, but he was found guilty at the Old Bailey. | Martin Baker, 54, of Ayebridges Avenue, Egham, denied killing her, saying he knew nothing of her disappearance, but he was found guilty at the Old Bailey. |
Baker was remanded in custody for sentencing later this month. | Baker was remanded in custody for sentencing later this month. |
Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said circumstantial but "very powerful" evidence pointed to him having killed his wife and disposing of her body and car. | Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said circumstantial but "very powerful" evidence pointed to him having killed his wife and disposing of her body and car. |
Det Supt Brian Russell said after the conviction: "We do not know how she died. | Det Supt Brian Russell said after the conviction: "We do not know how she died. |
"He could have fed her to the pigs, he could have buried her or dumped her in water." | "He could have fed her to the pigs, he could have buried her or dumped her in water." |
Pigs' swill and manure at the farm was checked after Baker's first wife, Gillian Hopkins, told police of threats he made before their divorce. | |
She claimed he said he would make her "disappear permanently" by cutting her up and feeding her to the pigs. | |
Witness at farm | |
An Old Bailey jury was told the defendant feared losing £100,000 Brookfield Farm in Chobham after his wife had walked out on him and moved back in with her parents. | |
Martin Baker was described as a controlling and jealous man | Martin Baker was described as a controlling and jealous man |
Mrs Baker left her new lover's house in Sunbury to drive to the farm on 8 July, 2002. | |
Her husband denied being there, but witness Fiona Cooper, who arrived at the farm on the same day to tend to a horse in a nearby field, told how she was ushered away by an "agitated" Baker. | Her husband denied being there, but witness Fiona Cooper, who arrived at the farm on the same day to tend to a horse in a nearby field, told how she was ushered away by an "agitated" Baker. |
Mr Dennis told the court: "He immediately told her she couldn't stay... she was left feeling that he couldn't wait to get rid of her." | Mr Dennis told the court: "He immediately told her she couldn't stay... she was left feeling that he couldn't wait to get rid of her." |
Mrs Baker's disappearance was not reported to police for three weeks. | Mrs Baker's disappearance was not reported to police for three weeks. |
Det Supt Russell said: "She had just vanished off the face of the earth. | Det Supt Russell said: "She had just vanished off the face of the earth. |
"We will be hoping to speak to Martin Baker to ask him to reveal where Tina's body is." | "We will be hoping to speak to Martin Baker to ask him to reveal where Tina's body is." |