Former miner denies Briton’s Costa murder

16 March 2005

MALAGA-A former miner accused of the brutal murder of a British woman in Spain has told a court he is innocent.

Richard Monteith, 53, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in the UK, is accused of battering Diana Dyson, 63, of Sheffield, in her Torremolinos flat in March 2002, the BBC reported.

He is also accused of stealing her jewellery. His wife Anne-Marie, 50, is accused of handling stolen property.

On Wednesday, after a three-day trial at a Costa Del Sol court, three judges retired to consider their verdict.

During the hearing Monteith named another Tyneside man, claiming he carried out the attack.

He told the Palace Justice in Malaga that he had led the man to Dyson’s flat on 6 March 2002, but did not know he was there to harm her.

Asked if he has anything to say before the judges retired, he said: “I had no intention of harming her when I went to the apartment.

“I had no idea she was going to die that night. I did not rob her jewellery. If I had gone there to steal I would not have taken her gems, which I did not like, I’d have taken her credit cards which could have been activated to get a large amount of money.”

He claimed he did not go to the police because the man he has accused of the killing threatened to murder his son and daughter.

Dyson’s jewellery was also later found in Monteith’s apartment in the resort, the judges heard.

Monteith claims she gave them to him so she could make a false insurance claim.

The judges’ verdict is expected in three to four weeks.

[Copyright Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news