Darwin in tears as she tells how husband forced her to agree to plan

3:31pm Thursday 17th July 2008

ANNE Darwin broke down in tears today as she told a jury her husband forced her to take part in his plan to stage his own death and claim the £250,000 insurance money.

Mrs Darwin said she did not take husband John seriously when he first came up with the idea to escape financial difficulties at the start of 2002.

She then wept as she described what happened when she picked him up from North Gare beach after his faked disappearance in a canoe.

"He appeared in jeans, black jacket and black hat, carrying a rucksack, and told her to drive him to the station," she said.

She told the jury: "I was upset that he could do such a thing. I pleaded with him not to do it but it made no difference.

"He was the same as he always was. What John wanted, John got."

The jury has already been told she considered leaving her husband after he had an affair.

She told the jury: "I was quite obviously upset when I found out about the relationship. I did consider leaving him, but I just couldn't see a life without him. I didn't know how I would cope on my own so I forgave him."

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