Murder of Tina Baker

This article is about the British woman murdered by her husband in 2002. For the broadcaster and journalist, see Tina Baker.

Tina Baker was a British woman who disappeared in July 2002.[1] Her husband Martin was convicted of her murder in 2006.[1]

Background

In May 2002 Tina Baker had rekindled a relationship with an old schoolfriend and separated from her husband.[1] She had also asked her husband Martin for a divorce.[1]

Disappearance

She left her new partner's home on the day she disappeared, saying that she was going to feed the animals at Brookfield farm, which she and her husband owned.[1] The farm was near Chobham.[1] Her pet dog was found abandoned and her bank account was untouched.[1] She was last seen in Sunbury on 8 July 2002.[2]

Investigation

Her disappearance was initially treated as a missing persons case, but police became suspicious of her husband.[1] Sniffer dogs had been used to search the farm for her remains, but they failed to find them.[1] In October 2005 he was arrested and charged with his wife's murder.[1]

Trial

During the trial his first wife, Gillian Hopkins, testified that he had threatened to kill her and feed her to the pigs before their divorce.[3] Pig swill and manure were checked for Tina's remains but they were not found.[3]

He denied being at the farm the day Tina disappeared, but a witness testified to meeting him on the farm that day and that he was agitated and made them feel unwelcome.[1] Telephone records placed him near the farm that morning and also that he had contacted a friend who ran a breaker's yard that could dispose of cars that day.[1]

Martin Baker was found guilty of Tina's murder at the Old Bailey although her body was never recovered.[1][3] He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 14 years.[4]

He had feared he would lose the £100,000 14 acre farm.[4]

Aftermath

In August 2020 police began digging at Priest Lane near Bisley.[2] The Army and special forensic teams were also involved.[2] Her remains were not found.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lewis, Paul (14 November 2006). "Guilty of murder - the man who police believe may have fed his wife to pigs". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Tina Baker murder: Fresh dig for woman murdered by husband". BBC News. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "'Pig case' murderer loses appeal". BBC News. 10 November 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Life for man who killed his wife". BBC News. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Tina Baker murder: Fresh dig for body ends with nothing found". BBC News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.