THE lover of a businessman known as "the silver fox" has told how she was left stunned when he admitted killing his wife to be with her.
Anita Anderson was murdered on the day she bought herself a dress in anticipation of accompanying her husband, Malcolm (54), to a Christmas party.
She had no idea he had pledged his future to colleague Claire Jackson (26).
A court heard how And
erson was so desperate to be with Miss Jackson that he plotted with workmate, John Height, to "get rid" of his wife.
Mrs Anderson (52) was beaten, stabbed and thrown into a river – possibly while still alive – where her body was later found trapped under a tractor tyre.
Anderson, of The Mill, Kirton, Lincolnshire, admits murdering her last December, but Height (38), of Driffield Way, Woodston, Peterborough, denies the charge.
Yesterday, Miss Jackson told how she fell in love with Anderson after he became her boss at the Norfolkline haulage company in Whittlesey.
Blonde Miss Jackson told Nottingham Crown Court they began an affair in January 2006, adding: "It developed into a sexual relationship quite quickly."
The court heard that at one stage Anderson – whom Miss Jackson affectionately knew as "the silver fox" – sent his secret lover one of his T-shirts sprayed with his aftershave, so she could wear it in bed.
Miss Jackson said Anderson's wife found out about the affair after discovering a romantic text message on his phone.
He packed his bags, but was later reconciled with his wife.
But Anderson and Miss Jackson continued to meet up and spent the night together at a work seminar in November last year.
Wearing a silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant, Miss Jackson told the court how Anderson phoned her the day before the Christmas party to say he and his wife had had a "blazing" argument, when he told her she couldn't go to the Christmas party.
Anderson later beat and stabbed his wife, before dumping her in the River Welland, outside Deeping St James, near Market Deeping – allegedly with Height's help.
Miss Jackson said she later went to the party with him, but said her lover was distant.
The next day, she said, Anderson phoned her twice – the first time to say police had found a body, the second to reveal he was in France.
She said: "I asked him what was wrong and why he was there.
"He replied: 'I did it. I paid someone to get rid of Anita'."
Anderson begged Miss Jackson to join him, which she refused to do, and urged him to come back and tell the truth.
The trial continues.
The full article contains 449 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
