A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in connection with the alleged murder of New Forest mum-of-five Pennie Davis.

Lian Doyle, of Beech Crescent, Hythe, admitted to disposing of “training shoes” which were evidence in the investigation.

But prosecutors dropped a charge of assisting an offender against Doyle.

Winchester Crown Court was told that the Crown Prosecution Service wanted that allegation to be withdrawn.

Doyle, who is being held in custody, was then asked to stand to enter her plea to the one charge of perverting the course of justice.

She pleaded guilty to disposing of the training shoes sometime between September 2 and September 6, 2014.

Her sentencing has been adjourned until after the trial of two men and one woman who are facing various charges relating to the death of 47-year-old Pennie on September 2.

As previously reported, the body of the popular supermarket worker was found by her husband Pete, at the paddock by Leygreen Farm, Beaulieu, where she had been tending to her beloved horses in September last year.

He had gone to meet her after work to help clean out their four horses.

The pair had only been married for four months, a day which Pete describes as “the best day of my life”.

Last month Justin Robertson, 36, of no fixed address, denied murdering Pennie, from Blackfield, and also a charge of conspiracy to murder.

Samantha Maclean, 28, unemployed, of Beech Crescent, Hythe, also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder, at a hearing in December.

A fourth defendant, Benjamin Carr, 22, a scaffolder, of Edward Road, Shirley, Southampton, did not appear in court on the same date, because of an administrative mix-up, but his counsel indicated that he would be pleading not guilty to the charge of assisting an offender.

A trial has been listed to start on March 2 and is expected to last four weeks.

Doyle will remain in custody until she is sentenced once that trial has ended