"Once I put her in the boot of the car, I could absolutely tell she was absolutely dead. There was no doubt about it."

That was what Derek Symmons told the police officer investigating the death of his wife Christine.

The statement was revealed in St Albans Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) where Symmons, of Lower Plantation, Loudwater, is standing trial for murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

A DVD of Symmons' statement to Herts police was played in court.

On the DVD he was seen telling the investigating officer that after he put Christine's body in the boot of his silver grey BMW he then returned to the annexe of the house and "cried my eyes out".

He said he then "flaked out".

He left the house in the BMW between 3am and 4am on September 5, 2005.

He said: "I was in a daze. I didn't know what I was doing. I just drove."

Symmons drove the car, with his wife in the boot, to France.

The trial continues.

For full coverage of the first week of the Symmons trial, see today's Watford Observer.