A FORMER Suffolk pub landlady was stabbed to death with a bayonet by her husband because he thought she was having an affair with a local thatcher, it has been alleged.

Second World War enthusiast Paul Green, 59, allegedly stabbed his 53-year-old wife Sharon Green five times in the chest with a bayonet which was part of his collection of war memorabilia, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

One of the wounds suffered by Mrs Green was 23 centimetres deep, two further wounds penetrated her heart and one cut her aorta, said Gerard Pounder, prosecuting.

A pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination on mother-of-three Mrs Green, who lived at the former Old Bell pub in Marlesford, near Wickham Market, said she had also suffered nine rib fractures.

The pathologist formed the view that the level of force used against Mrs Green to inflict the wounds had been “severe”, said Mr Pounder.

He told the court Mrs Green’s body was found early on November 20 last year by one of her sons who had driven to Marlesford from his home in Cambridge after becoming concerned after a telephone conversation with his father.

During the call, Paul Green allegedly said that his wife had been having an affair with a thatcher called Stephen Pye and that he better come home.

Mr Pounder said Green was crying and said he was sorry.

After the alarm was raised by Edward Green when he found his mother’s body, police officers began looking for Green, who had left the former pub in a family car.

The car, which had left the A12 and hit a tree near Bredfield, was found abandoned and Green was found shortly afterwards walking along the A12 and was arrested.

Green has denied murdering his wife between November 19 and 20 last year. The trial continues.

The family had moved to Marlesford from Edmonton in London to run the pub in 1999-2000.

But the business closed six years ago because of financial difficulties and the pub was converted into a private house.

The court heard that Mrs Green got to know Mr Pye when he re-thatched the former pub and she had told a number of people that he had feelings for her.

She had also mentioned that she and Mr Pye had exchanged texts and emails.

However, shortly before her death Mrs Green had contacted Mr Pye and told him that as far as she was concerned their relationship was over.

-The trial continues. See tomorrow’s papers for a full report.