The son of a murdered woman who met her husband in Swindon has told a court about his memories of growing up in the town.

Dean Morgan, now 57, told the jury at Luton Crown Court this week it was a “real shock” when the police told him in 2019 that husband and wife Allen and Margaret Morgan had been arrested on suspicion of being involved in his mum Carol’s murder.

After the defendants were charged in 2023, Dean said his stepfather called him, adding: “He told me it was all a mix up and I told him I had no idea about what happened.

“The argument became heated and he put the phone down on me. We have not spoken since.“

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The court heard last week that Allen and Margaret Morgan “arranged and paid for” the murder of Allen's then-wife Carol in 1981 so that they could be together.

An Adver report from the time claims that Carol was “bludgeoned to death by raiders who escaped with several hundred pounds”.

Now, more than 40 years later, 73-year-old Allen and his 75-year-old wife Margaret Morgan are accused of conspiring to murder her. They both deny this charge.

Dean said his mother Carol met Allen through the single parents’ Gingerbread group in Swindon. Allen was working as a truck driver and would sometimes take him for a ride in his cab.

He played football for a boys' team run by Allen and they would go to watch Swindon Town in action.

In a statement, Dean added: “My memories of Allen were of him being a good stepdad. He ran a football team in Swindon which I played for.

“Allen cared about Jane (his sister) and me. We always called him Dad.

“Allen could be a bit blunt. He said things how he sees them. I don’t remember him having much of a temper at all.

Swindon Advertiser: Allen and Carol MorganAllen and Carol Morgan (Image: Swindon Advertiser archive)

Asked about Carol, Dean said: “I don't remember much about her. She cared for us very much. She had been married to Allen for many years and there was nothing unusual about their relationship. I don’t remember any arguments.”

Once they moved to Leighton Buzzard, Dean said he suspected Allen was having an affair with Margaret Spooner because the telephone at the shop would ring a couple of times before being cut off, which he assumed was a way of Margaret communicating with Allen.

After Carol’s murder, the children stayed locally with a friend of Allen's. When they returned to the shop, Margaret helped them redecorate and moved in. At first, Dean said it was awkward trying to call Margaret “Mum” but it stuck after a while.

The next year, he, his sister, Allen and Margaret went on holiday to Malta.

In 1982, the family moved to Doncaster where Allen had relatives, then to Sheffield where they had a corner shop. Allen and Margaret later moved to Brighton while the children remained in Sheffield until they finished their studies then joined them on the south coast.

Dean said he was not aware of the family having any financial difficulties.

The case continues.