Martin Hale seems to have taken a unique view to what could have been an expensive divorce from his wife, by murdering her and disposing of the body. Martin is standing accused of murder, and has even written a list of different ways to dispose of her body.

Why would you leave a list like that lying around?

He left the list in his briefcase, which was found by the police, stating:

At sea, by fire, by acid, landsite.

It was explained to the court that he even asked one of his friends if he could us the incinerator in their pet crematorium. Another note found by police showed his views on his wife’s demands during their divorce settlement:

Now Maureen says she doesn’t love me anymore but she would like to keep the house, all the children and an income to keep her and the children in the style that she has become accustomed to - nice car, money, no job and friends to visit.

His wife, Maureen, went missing in June 1999 and has never been found. Martin didn’t report her missing until three days later. She had begun divorce proceedings against her husband a few months earlier.

Martin Hale has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, claiming that if she his dead, it must have been her lover who killed her.

Clive Bellmore