Murder suspect's prayers for forgiveness overheard by police

A murder suspect's prayers were heard not only by God but by police who had bugged his car, the Old Bailey heard today.

George Maben's pleas for forgiveness were a "a confession" to the killing of his girlfriend's mother, the jury was told.

After detectives heard his emotional, whispered words: "God, forgive me for what I have done", they arrested Maben for strangling Maureen Cosgrove, 65.

Unemployed Maben, 45, of Rosehill, Surrey, denies murdering Mrs Cosgrove at her home in Carshalton Beeches, Surrey, on March 24, this year.

Mrs Cosgrove had been asphyxiated with a ligature in the kitchen of her home after arriving home from the dentist.

Maben was going out with her daughter Lucy, 34, who was expecting his baby.

They had lived for a few months at Mrs Cosgrove's home, part of the time in the summerhouse at the bottom of her garden, but things had not worked out, said Anthony Glass, QC, prosecuting.