A salesman allegedly murdered by his wife had been having an affair not long before his death, a court heard.

An Old Bailey jury was told how Patricia Smith admitted to an affair with Julian Webb shortly after his death on June 30 1994.

The prosecution alleges that wife Dena Thompson, now of Cullompton, Devon, murdered Mr Webb with overdoses of drugs which may have been fed to him in hot curries.

Thompson, 43, denies murdering him on his 31st birthday at their home in Yapton, near Arundel, in June 1994.

Graham Hewitt, a former work colleague of Mr Webb, told police in an interview last year how Mrs Smith had discussed the affair with him.

Joanna Greenberg, defending, told Mr Hewitt: "What you told the officer was that within a few days after Julian's death Mrs Smith had spoken about Julian. You told the officer what she told you was that she was having an affair with Julian.

"She said she had been having an affair with Mr Webb and she felt it important to bring to your attention because of the suggestion that Julian had been unwell and depressed, which she thought was untrue.

"You told the police she told you she had been seeing him for some time, including June 8, 1994, and she said he had seemed well and had performed well."

Mr Hewitt said: "I don't think it's a phrase I would've used but I can't remember.

"All I can remember is that Mrs Smith came to see me because she was concerned about the relationship with Mr Webb. I understood that it was a continuing relationship."

Miss Greenberg asked: "A sexual relationship?"

Mr Hewitt said: "I think that's the impression she gave me."

Miss Greenberg went on: "The impression she gave you was that it was continuing up to three weeks before his death."

Mr Hewitt said: "Yes, I think that is a fair comment."

Mrs Smith told the jury they had an affair but denied it was still going on three weeks before Mr Webb's death.

The court also heard that Thompson had seemed "cold and unemotional" when she broke the news of her husband's death to his colleagues.

Mr Hewitt told the court Thompson called him in the morning after Mr Webb's death to break the news.

Mr Hewitt said: "I remember it extremely well because it was so extraordinary. I was so totally unprepared for the phone call so it came as an enormous surprise when the female said Julian Webb had died.

"I asked her how, why, what had happened. To the best of my recollection she said she had found him dead in bed in the early hours of the morning.

"She was almost matter-of-fact, cold and unemotional. She soon started to ask me questions about money owing to him and benefits.

"I remember being extremely surprised to the extent that I remember banging on the partition to call my colleague in to listen to this amazing call."

Mr Hewitt said he saw Thompson put flowers on her husband's grave at the funeral on August 24.

Her card beside the flowers read: "To Julian. Because you loved me so. Dena."

The trial continues.