A woman murdered her husband to get his pension and conceal a secret double life, a court heard today.

Dena Thompson, 43, fed her husband Julian Webb a cocktail of dozens of aspirin and anti depressant tablets at their home in Douglas Close, Yapton, in July 1994, the Old Bailey heard today.

Michael Birbaum, QC, prosecuting, said: "Dena Thompson says in the last days of his life he became depressed and perhaps committed suicide.

"There was a police investigation but perhaps it was not as detailed as it might have been."

An inquest on Mr Webb recorded an open verdict.

Mr Birbaum added: "The prosecution says Julian did not kill himself. The defendant killed him by subterfuge. She tricked him into taking lethal quantities of drugs."

Mr Birbaum described the victim as a "fit and healthy man" who had turned 31 on June 30, 1994, the day his wife alleges he killed himself.

He was a regular gym user, was careful about his diet and showed no signs of depression in the months before his death.

However, during the last week of his life his routine changed. He did not go to his advertising job and stopped going to the gym.

Mr Birnbaum said Thompson prevented friends and relatives speaking to her husband.

When ambulance men came to the house at 1.20am on July 1, 1994, after being called by Thompson she went into a cabinet and took out an empty bottle of soluble aspirin and an empty bottle of her prescribed antidepressants.

Mr Birnbaum said: "These are the very drugs which had killed Julian.

"If she was looking after him how did he manage to get hold of the drugs which were in the kitchen and take them?"

The jury heard Thompson, now of Cullompton, Devon, rang her husband's work within hours of his death making inquiries about £35,000 to be released from his pension on his death. The trial continues.