JOHN Walker's murder trial was today due to begin in Ipswich.The 66-year-Suffolk pensioner was scheduled to appear at Ipswich Crown Court after 2pm.Walker, of Meadow Cottage, Great Bealings, is alleged to have killed his 63-year-old wife Glenda at the home they shared on the outskirts of the village.

By Colin Adwent

JOHN Walker's murder trial was today due to begin in Ipswich.

The 66-year-Suffolk pensioner was scheduled to appear at Ipswich Crown Court after 2pm.

Walker, of Meadow Cottage, Great Bealings, is alleged to have killed his 63-year-old wife Glenda at the home they shared on the outskirts of the village.

Mrs Walker was found with gunshot wounds after police were called to the house in November 2002. Her husband was arrested a short time later.

Walker's trial is set to be heard by His Honour Judge John Devaux, and will be the first murder case he has heard in Ipswich since he became qualified to sit as a judge on murder trials.

Although it was expected the jury would be sworn in today, no witnesses will be called until tomorrow at the earliest.

It is unclear whether the prosecution will open its case against the former agricultural scientist, who worked for BASF in Lady Lane Industrial Estate, Hadleigh, until his retirement in the mid 1990s, today or wait until tomorrow.

A post mortem examination showed that Mrs Walker's death was the result of the single gunshot to the chest.

Walker has been on bail since an early court hearing and is currently listed at a London address.

Originally bail was fixed at £125,000 and an order to report to Islington Police Station three times a week.

Walker is well known in both Bealings and Woodbridge, as well as to former work colleagues in Hadleigh.