JURORS in the trial of a man accused of killing his wife and hiding her body 20 years ago have retired to consider their verdict.

Mother-of-three Debbie Griggs, 34, disappeared without trace from her home in Kent in May 1999 and has not been seen since.

Her husband, Andrew Griggs, 57, of Ringwood Road, Saint Leonards, is on trial at Canterbury Crown Court charged with murder, which he denies.

The court had previously heard prosecutors allege that Griggs killed his wife, "disposed of" her body and then dumped her car streets away from their home in Deal, Kent.

Jurors were also told that Griggs was allegedly in a relationship at the time with a 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He told police that his wife had left of her own accord on May 5 1999, but the prosecution alleges it was something "altogether more sinister".

The court heard that Griggs told police his wife would have been entitled to half of their business if they divorced, and he said he had obtained legal advice to that effect.