EVIDENCE from people first on the scene when the body of Loudwater hairdresser Christine Symmons was discovered in the boot of her husband's car was heard at St Albans Crown Court this week.

Christine's husband, Derek, is on trial for her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Derek was at the Mercure hotel in Macon on September 6 last year when he confessed to strangling his wife.

Statements from the hotel receptionist, Aurelie Garay, motorway police officer Pierre Prothery and scene of crime officer Phillipe Nicvert were all read out to the court.

The jury were also read a transcript from Derek Symmons' initial interview, with the French police, wher he described the death of his wife as "unfortunate" and a "blunder".

Jean Francois Rousseau, a forensic pathologist in Macon, also testified as a witness for the prosecution. He told the jury that Mrs Symmons' injuries were consistent with being strangled for up to or more that 30 seconds, and that she had also suffered multiple bruising.

Mr Symmons said in his statement: "My wife grabbed my neck, then I grabbed hers. There was a struggle. After a couple of seconds we fell to the floor."

The case continues.