A HOSPITAL worker accused of killing his wife has declined to give evidence at his trial.Judge John Devaux told the Ipswich Crown Court jury it could “draw an inference” from Anthony Morley's silence.

A HOSPITAL worker accused of killing his wife has declined to give evidence at his trial.

Judge John Devaux told the Ipswich Crown Court jury it could “draw an inference” from Anthony Morley's silence.

Morley, 42, has denied the manslaughter of his wife Joanne at their Eagle Walk home in Bury St Edmunds.

His defence lawyer Jonathan Goodman cross-examined the prosecution witnesses as they were called to give evidence against the defendant, but at the end of the prosecution case he stood and stated: “And that is the case for the defence”, without calling any witnesses of his own.

The jury heard that 42-year-old Mrs Morley and her husband had argued in their bedroom in June last year. Morley admitted pushing his wife onto the bed by her arms after she slapped him.

A post mortem examination concluded that Mrs Morley suffered a haemorrhage as a result of a torn artery after being struck on the neck and had quickly collapsed unconscious and had died shortly afterwards.

It is alleged that Morley punched her on the neck causing the fatal injury.

The court heard that Morley, a West Suffolk Hospital worker, left his house and spent the night at his office.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said when Morley was arrested initially for murder he responded in disbelief: “Murder?”

On June 25, a post mortem examination of Mrs Morley was carried out, and she was found to have been drunk at the time of her death.

The trial continues.