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Canoe man 'begged to come home' Canoe man 'begged to come home'
(about 1 hour later)
Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin cried and begged his wife to let him come home after faking his own death, Teesside Crown Court has heard.Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin cried and begged his wife to let him come home after faking his own death, Teesside Crown Court has heard.
But Anne Darwin, 56, told detectives investigating her role in a £250,000 fraud that she was minded to leave him where he was hiding.But Anne Darwin, 56, told detectives investigating her role in a £250,000 fraud that she was minded to leave him where he was hiding.
She said staging his death had been a "ridiculous idea", the court heard.She said staging his death had been a "ridiculous idea", the court heard.
Mrs Darwin denies six counts of deception and nine money-laundering charges linked to insurance payments.Mrs Darwin denies six counts of deception and nine money-laundering charges linked to insurance payments.
Mr Darwin has admitted deception and will be sentenced later.Mr Darwin has admitted deception and will be sentenced later.
He vanished after his canoe was found in the sea close to his home at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, in 2002.He vanished after his canoe was found in the sea close to his home at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, in 2002.
I knew it was stupid but, once I set out along the road, it was difficult to turn back Anne DarwinI knew it was stupid but, once I set out along the road, it was difficult to turn back Anne Darwin
The jury was read transcripts of interviews between Mrs Darwin and police which were taken after Mr Darwin's reappearance and the couple's subsequent arrest last year.The jury was read transcripts of interviews between Mrs Darwin and police which were taken after Mr Darwin's reappearance and the couple's subsequent arrest last year.
She told officers that her husband had pleaded to come home from his hiding place within weeks of his disappearance and how finally she relented.She told officers that her husband had pleaded to come home from his hiding place within weeks of his disappearance and how finally she relented.
The transcript read: "I still had family staying with me. He was finding it hard. He was getting desperate.The transcript read: "I still had family staying with me. He was finding it hard. He was getting desperate.
"He phoned me and gave me directions to where he was."He phoned me and gave me directions to where he was.
"I wanted to leave him there. I didn't want to go and pick him up, but I couldn't leave him."I wanted to leave him there. I didn't want to go and pick him up, but I couldn't leave him.
"At one point, he was literally crying on the telephone."At one point, he was literally crying on the telephone.
"I couldn't see him hurt.""I couldn't see him hurt."
Mark (right) and Anthony Darwin were at Teesside Crown Court on TuesdayMark (right) and Anthony Darwin were at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday
The jury heard that after returning Mr Darwin lived next door in a bedsit in the property next to the seafront family home.The jury heard that after returning Mr Darwin lived next door in a bedsit in the property next to the seafront family home.
Mrs Darwin told police that she had protested to her husband that they should declare themselves bankrupt.Mrs Darwin told police that she had protested to her husband that they should declare themselves bankrupt.
"But he just wouldn't hear it. He said we had both worked hard all our lives and he didn't want to lose everything he had worked for," the transcript read."But he just wouldn't hear it. He said we had both worked hard all our lives and he didn't want to lose everything he had worked for," the transcript read.
"He was not violent, but could be very manipulative."He was not violent, but could be very manipulative.
"I used to say he treated me like a second year pupil that he used to teach."I used to say he treated me like a second year pupil that he used to teach.
"From the day he came home, I tried to persuade him to come clean."From the day he came home, I tried to persuade him to come clean.
"I knew it was stupid but, once I set out along the road, it was difficult to turn back.""I knew it was stupid but, once I set out along the road, it was difficult to turn back."
The former doctors' receptionist told officers that deceiving their two son's Mark and Anthony Darwin had been "extremely painful".The former doctors' receptionist told officers that deceiving their two son's Mark and Anthony Darwin had been "extremely painful".
'Kind of numbness'
She had allowed her husband to hear phone calls with their sons by putting them on loudspeaker, the court heard.She had allowed her husband to hear phone calls with their sons by putting them on loudspeaker, the court heard.
The jury was told the couple had set up a new life in Panama last year and that Mrs Darwin had told her story to a journalist after being traced.The jury was told the couple had set up a new life in Panama last year and that Mrs Darwin had told her story to a journalist after being traced.
Irene Blakemore, the best friend of Mrs Darwin, told the court that she felt betrayed by the lies spun to her.
Telling of a visit to her friend's home after the disappearance, she said: "(Anne) appeared quite calm but I wasn't surprised that she was not weeping and wailing because she came across as a quite self-contained person and not one to make a fuss.
"There was a kind of numbness."
Mrs Blakemore also said Mrs Darwin had marked the first anniversary of her husband's "death" by taking flowers to the sea where the battered canoe had been found, one of which she kept for her bedside table.
She added that Mrs Darwin had appeared "shaky" after the inquest into Mr Darwin's death in April 2003.
The trial continues.