‘Car crash’ wife killer plans to appeal verdict

Malcolm Webster’s lawyers are planning to launch an appeal this week against his conviction for killing Claire Morris in 1994.

By The Newsroom

Published 31st Oct 2011, 00:00 BST

Webster was jailed for at least 30 years after being found guilty of killing his wife in a staged car crash in Aberdeenshire.

But now his legal team have said they believe they have good grounds for an appeal.

The 52-year-old from Surrey was found guilty of killing his wife in a 1994 car crash, which was originally treated as an accident after Webster claimed he swerved to avoid a motorcyclist.

The trial was the longest criminal trial with a single accused in Scottish history.

He was also convicted of trying to kill his second wife – Felicity Drumm – in New Zealand in 1999 in another staged crash. He accelerated to about 60mph and veered across two motorway lanes before leaving the carriageway in an attempt to kill her. The crash in Auckland led to the death of Ms Morris being reinvestigated.