Scot denies he hatched poison plot to murder both his wives

Aug 10 2008 By Charles Lavery

A SCOT at the centre of an international probe after both his wives were poisoned has claimed: "I am not suspected of killing anyone."

Malcolm Webster, 49, is being investigated after Grampian Police reexamined a car crash which killed his first wife Claire, 32.

Colleagues in New Zealand alerted them to a similar smash four years later involving Webster's second wife Felicity, who survived.

Both women are believed to have had traces in their bloodstream of a sedative used to treat epileptics.

But Webster told a New Zealand newspaper: "My first wife's death was a tragic event and there is not a single day I don't think of her.

"She was the most perfect person I have ever met.

"I will be more than happy if they (the police) wish to speak to me but I am not suspected of killing anyone."

Detectives believeWebster collected a £200,000 insurance policy pay-out after Claire's death and moved to Saudi Arabia, where he met New Zealander Felicity. He denied Felicity had been in a crash, saying: "We pulled up on the verge as there was a vibration with the car. There was no injury to Felicity.

"I wish her well but there have been strange practices undertaken with regard to the allegations against me." Last year Scots police re-tested samples taken from Claire's body after the fireball crash in Aberdeenshire in 1994.

They found traces of a similar drug to the one in Felicity's bloodstreamin 1998.

Webster claimed he has yet to be interviewed by Grampian Police but there are warrants for his arrest in New Zealand after he failed to showin court.

He is accused of trying to "stupefy" Felicity with drugs.

Webster also claimed he had tried to return to New Zealand to clear his name but had been refused entry.

Mike Bush of Auckland police said: "We're confident that matters are well in hand."

Grampian Police said inquiries are continuing.

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