Murder suspect admits lying to police

A SPURNED lover admitted he lied to police about his girlfriend’s death - but denies responsibility for her murder.

Steven Dunks (45), of Milnrow Road, Shaw is accused of murdering Lynn Howarth (43) in Heywood last July and hiding her death for a month by sending messages from her phone.

He told a Manchester Crown Court jury he left Lynn’s flat in Boleyn Court, Heywood while she was asleep on the morning of July 27 after the pair had reconciled.

Dunks admitted taking her bank card without permission and using it to withdraw £50 on the morning of her death, £140 on August 5 and £150 on August 19.

Dunks denied taking Lynn’s Blackberry phone despite analysis showing their phones were never apart during the month after her death. Analysis also showed their SIM cards were swopped between the two devices. Some data was also erased from Dunks’ phone, and Dunks denied visiting a mobile phone shop in Shaw for a new back and battery for a Blackberry - despite the store owner remembering repairing the phone.

On the night before Lynn’s death, Dunks said he had agreed to look for new accommodation to prove he could be faithful to her after becoming jealous of her relationship with another man, Anthony Berry.

Robert Hall, prosecuting, said that after discovering Lynn had started seeing Mr Berry, he had made threats against him - threats Dunks claimed he didn’t remember making.

Dunks told police in an interview he hadn’t believed his relationship with the victim was over when he abused Mr Berry - contradicting earlier evidence. He admitted later lying in an interview because “the relationship was none of the police’s business”.

The jury is due to retire today to consider its verdict.