A FORMER pig farmer accused of murdering his 'good-looking' wife and dumping her body in a septic tank 40 years ago says he loved her.

David Venables started giving evidence from the witness box at Worcester Crown Court today, wearing earphones so he could follow the questions (Wednesday).

The 89-year-old of Elgar Drive, Kempsey denies murdering his wife and dumping her body in a septic tank between May 2 and May 5 1982. He reported her missing on May 4, 1982.

Brenda’s remains were found at Quaking House, the Kempsey home the couple shared, in 2019.

He said he had lived and gone to school in Kempsey and was from a farming family.

As a child, he said he lived in the village with his mum and dad and had a brother called Peter who was six years younger.

In 1942, his father bought Baynhall Farm in Kempsey. Venables left school in July 1949, working on the family farm including helping to plant crops and with the harvest.

He said he lived on the farm until shortly after he married Brenda on June 1 1960 after meeting her at Worcester and Kidderminster Young Farmers.

From June until February they lived together at Baynhall Farm.

He said Brenda had been a member of Kidderminster Young Farmers and they met in 1957.

“I think it was probably at Droitwich Winter Gardens, an organised dance,” he said.

“It was a dance hall. I think it’s been demolished some years ago” he added.

He added: “We met socially after a few times and started going out together.”

Asked by Timothy Hannam QC, defending, what made Venables want to spend the rest of his life with Brenda, he replied: "She was always very pleasant. Whenever you went out she was always good company and we just got on well together."

Asked what turned his head about her, Venables said: “She was very good-looking, just generally appealing."

He was asked: "Did there come a point at which you fell in love?"

Venables replied 'yes'.

They married on June 1, 1960 at Rushock church and had their honeymoon in Jersey. Quaking House was still being built.

His dad offered him land at Quaking House before he was married, he said, and they moved in together in February 1961.

The trial continues.