Kempsey murder accused asks if septic tank body is his wife

David Venables denies killing his wife Brenda before dumping her body in a septic tank as his trial continued at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

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The 89-year-old of Elgar Drive, Kempsey, stands accused of murdering her between May 2 and May 5 1982. He reported her missing on May 4, 1982.

DENIAL: David Venables. Photo: PA

Quaking House, the Kempsey home where the couple had been living, was sold to nephew Andrew Venables before the skeletal remains of Brenda were found inside a septic tank in 2019

Transcripts of police interviews with David Venables were read out to a jury.

In one interview Venables said: "What evidence have you got? These bones, are you sure it's my wife?"

Venables was told by the officer that enquiries were ongoing. "I have no knowledge that there was anything in there at all," he replied.

He said that if he had known there was anything like that in the tank he would have 'sold the farm'.

FOUND: The body of Brenda Venables was found in a septic tank

"It would be pretty obvious that, at some time, it would be discovered," he told police.

Venables accepted he always emptied the septic tank himself and did not need any help.

"There's nothing to do really. You just put a pipe down and connect it up to the tank and open up the valve. You have got to keep pumping" he said.

He said he cleaned the tank out two or three times between 1961 and 1982 and once between 1982 and 2014. He sold the house in 2014.

"There was absolutely nothing in there when I emptied it," Venables told the officer. He later added: "If something was in there it would be perfectly obvious."

Before she disappeared, Venables said his wife had been 'quite depressed' and 'always very disappointed' which he attributed to her not having a family.

"She had two sisters who had six children between them," he said.

Venables explained that he had woken up to find his wife was no longer in their bed and thought she must have gone to make a cup of tea.

"I went to have a look. She had just disappeared. I felt perhaps she had gone to see friends. There was no sign of her anywhere" he said.

Venables said he reported her missing to a police officer in Kempsey and asked if they could get a police dog to help with the search.

"My last contact was the evening before. From that day to this, I just don't know what happened to her" he said.

The trial continues.