Secret tape recordings made by police following the death of a mother will be played to a court.

Detectives installed bugs in a house shared by three people after they were accused of killing Charmaine Dempsey.

Yesterday jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told the recordings were "highly incriminating".

Mrs Dempsey, 48, was found dead at her flat in Ivory Walk, Crawley, in December last year, a month after she was allegedly killed.

Alex Gallacher, 33, and Stephen Johnstone, 26, have both denied murder.

Tracey Gazzard, 29, who was Gallacher's girlfriend at the time, has admitted a charge of manslaughter.

The prosecution alleges Mrs Dempsey was killed on November 27 because she was blamed for Gazzard's children being taken into care by social services.

Michael Chambers, prosecuting, told the jury recordings made at the home the defendants shared in Neptune Close, Crawley, would be played to the court.

The trial continues.