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Murder Trial: Accused removed rings before attack started

Mon, 30 Mar 2015

A Castletown man removed his wife’s wedding rings from her hand shortly before it’s alleged he murdered the man he believed she was having an affair with.

46-year-old Ian Anderson is standing trial for murder – the body of Ballabeg gardener Neil Roberts was found at his home on Queen Street in the early hours of Sunday, December 1st 2013.

At Douglas Courthouse today he told jurors that he’d made it clear to his wife Alison that she had to leave their home that weekend because of her relationship with the 60-year-old.

However during the evening of November 30th Mr Roberts phoned Mrs Anderson saying he was in trouble and had crashed his car – as she had been drinking Anderson agreed to pick him up.

The men went to the Bay Hotel in Port Erin before returning to the house in Castletown for a drink – once there Anderson said he asked his wife if she loved Mr Roberts to which she replied “yes”.

Telling jurors he told the pair they should “just get on with it” he admitted taking the rings telling her “you won’t be needing these” – Mrs Anderson, he said, “hardly battered an eyelid”.

Anderson claimed Mr Roberts told him “it doesn’t work like that over here” saying his whole demeanour and facial expression then changed – he claims Mr Roberts then began to attack him.

Ian Anderson denies murder – the trial continues. 

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