Millionaire Martin Hale accused of murdering wife faced costly divorce battle

A millionaire company director accused of murdering his wife was facing the prospect of a costly divorce battle when she disappeared nine years ago, it was disclosed. Martin Hale, 51 was dramatically arrested this week and police were preparing to dig up a patio at the grounds of the family home he shared with his wife, Maureen, in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Specialist officers are using ground penetration radar - normally used to find earthquake victims - to detect any disruptions in the soil. They are preparing to dig up a concrete patio around a summer house built after Mrs Hale disappeared in June 1999.

The 51-year-old husband, a grocery wholesaler whose business has an annual turnover of £2.6million, insisted that she simply walked out of the house never to be seen again.
He was being questioned after police uncovered vital new clues.

Friends told detectives that Mrs Hale and her husband had been having relationship troubles and she had booked an appointment to see a divorce solicitor, due to take place two days after she vanished.

In the latest accounts submitted to Companies House, in 2006, his firm, Martin Hale & Co, had a turnover of £2.6 million.

He was also being questioned on suspicion of fraud.

It is thought Mr Hale re-mortgaged their home, filling out an application form using his wife's name. Police suspect it was forged and are also investigating whether he was trying to claim his wife's life insurance after she was declared legally dead.

One male neighbour, aged in his 80s, said Mrs Hale had confided in him about her desperate loneliness living with a workaholic husband - and admitted she was having an affair.

He said: "Not long before she disappeared she told me that she was very lonely, that her husband was always at work and that there were other troubles in the marriage.

"I know that she met another man in a local pub but I don't know what the content of their conversations were or the exact nature of their relationship.

"She was obviously dating him but she didn't tell me how long they had been seeing each other.

"I know that she was lonely, deeply lonely, and was looking for a friend and companionship."

The couple had four children together - Georgina, Oliver, Tristran and Samantha - who were brought up in the house and gardens after Mrs Hale's disappearance and are said to be devastated. The youngest, Samantha, 17, is sitting her A Levels and was supposed to be taking a biology paper but cancelled as she was too upset.

Mrs Hale had just come back from holiday in Greece and was said to be in a good state of mind when she disappeared in 1999. She had made plans to take her children to a concert and was looking forward to the 15th birthday celebrations of one of her daughters.

Her husband told police she walked out of the house about 10pm that evening but did not say where she was going or when she would be back. She had no personal possessions or money with her.

Martin Hale was charged with the murder of Maureen Hale on or before June 22 1999. He is due to appear at Kingston Magistrates Court.

Police have long suspected the mother of five was murdered and Det Chf Insp Colin Sutton has led a two-year review of the case, leading to the arrest.

By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Last Updated: 6:57PM BST 18/06/2008