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Andrew Griggs murder trial: Debbie Griggs 'would not have abandoned children' | Andrew Griggs murder trial: Debbie Griggs 'would not have abandoned children' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A loving mother-of-three who disappeared 20 years ago would never have walked out on her own children, a court heard. | |
Andrew Griggs, 57, is alleged to have murdered Debbie Griggs and disposed of her body in 1999. | Andrew Griggs, 57, is alleged to have murdered Debbie Griggs and disposed of her body in 1999. |
Mr Griggs, of St Leonards, Dorset, denies the charges and said his wife abandoned him and their three sons. | Mr Griggs, of St Leonards, Dorset, denies the charges and said his wife abandoned him and their three sons. |
Mrs Griggs' friend Dorothea Smith told a jury: "I know 110 % she would not have walked out on her children." | Mrs Griggs' friend Dorothea Smith told a jury: "I know 110 % she would not have walked out on her children." |
Police have been unable to find any trace of Mrs Griggs, who was four months pregnant, since she disappeared from the family home in Deal, Kent, aged 34 on 5 May 1999. | Police have been unable to find any trace of Mrs Griggs, who was four months pregnant, since she disappeared from the family home in Deal, Kent, aged 34 on 5 May 1999. |
Mrs Smith told Canterbury Crown Court she was "shocked" when Mr Griggs phoned her on 6 May and said his wife had left the family home and not returned. | Mrs Smith told Canterbury Crown Court she was "shocked" when Mr Griggs phoned her on 6 May and said his wife had left the family home and not returned. |
"I disputed that she would ever do that. The love for her children was palpable," she said. | "I disputed that she would ever do that. The love for her children was palpable," she said. |
Asked how Mr Griggs acted, she added: "The thing that really stood out was the calmness. There was no sense of worry. | Asked how Mr Griggs acted, she added: "The thing that really stood out was the calmness. There was no sense of worry. |
"It was like he had phoned me to ask if I'd remembered to put milk on the shopping list. No emotion." | "It was like he had phoned me to ask if I'd remembered to put milk on the shopping list. No emotion." |
Mrs Griggs confided in Mrs Smith during weekly telephone calls, she said. | Mrs Griggs confided in Mrs Smith during weekly telephone calls, she said. |
'Happy' | 'Happy' |
She said Mrs Griggs was "happy" about the arrival of their fourth child, but Mr Griggs "had told her he would like to terminate the pregnancy". | She said Mrs Griggs was "happy" about the arrival of their fourth child, but Mr Griggs "had told her he would like to terminate the pregnancy". |
"He didn't believe that it was his," she added. | "He didn't believe that it was his," she added. |
Neighbour Geraldine Bristow said Mr Griggs told her on 6 May that his wife had said "she was going to go away for a few days and see how he coped with the children". | Neighbour Geraldine Bristow said Mr Griggs told her on 6 May that his wife had said "she was going to go away for a few days and see how he coped with the children". |
He told her that his wife was depressed and had been acting like "a mad woman," adding that "she had not been taking her pills", she told the jury. | He told her that his wife was depressed and had been acting like "a mad woman," adding that "she had not been taking her pills", she told the jury. |
The court earlier heard that Mrs Griggs had experienced post-natal depression after the birth of her first two sons. | The court earlier heard that Mrs Griggs had experienced post-natal depression after the birth of her first two sons. |
Her GP had stopped prescribing anti-depressants in February 1995. | Her GP had stopped prescribing anti-depressants in February 1995. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |