Husband Charged With Murder
15 November 2011, 12:55 | Updated: 15 November 2011, 12:58
A man accused of killing his wife during a dream honeymoon trip to India appeared in court charged with her murder.
Colette Davies, 39, from Bridgend, south Wales, plunged 80ft to her death from a viewing point over a steep gorge in February 2004.
Husband John Clifton Davies, 50, was charged with her murder after his arrest by South Wales Police a few days before.
He and his wife had travelled to India for a belated honeymoon in 2004, 14 months after they had married.
One week into the honeymoon Mrs Davies fell to her death close to a river bridge in Gaura in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.
Davies was arrested in Milton Keynes on Thursday and brought to Cardiff by police for questioning.
He appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court today, where he gave his address as Dean Forest Way, Broughton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Davies was wearing a cream-coloured zip-up jumper with its fur-lined collar turned up. He is charged with murder and two counts of fraud.
Mani Ranauta, prosecuting, told the court: ``He is charged with murder and two linked matters. There is no right to a bail application.''
Davies was remanded in custody to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, November 16.
A statement issued yesterday by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) underlined the right of the UK authorities to prosecute the case.
``Whilst the murder charge relates to an offence alleged to have been committed in India, the law of England and Wales allows for British nationals to be tried in this country if the victim of the offence is also a British national,'' said Felicity Galvin, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales
``John Clifton Davies now stands charged with extremely serious criminal offences and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be published that could prejudice that trial.''