'You had motives to kill your wife'

A coroner today said the husband of a woman who fell to her death as they strolled along the cliff edge at Beachy Head had a motive for murder.

In a remarkable court attack, Eastbourne coroner Alan Craze recorded an open verdict on the death of Paula Ramsden, 32, then said her husband, Paul, was capable of murdering her.

Mother-of-two Mrs Ramsden suspected her husband of having an affair. Mr Ramsden, 38, a keep-fit fanatic and marathon runner, claimed they were sitting on the cliffs when he turned to kiss her and found she had vanished over the edge. He had just taken out a £225,000 insurance policy on her life.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident more than two years ago but was never charged. After her death he was alleged to have "shed no tears" for his wife.

Mr Ramsden said at the inquest that he was a womaniser who had been romantically involved with two other women. But he said today: "I did not push her off."

However, summing up, Mr Craze said everyone was united in regarding Paula's death on 9 January 2000 as suspicious-He described Mr Ramsden as a manipulative control freak and said he did not believe that Paula had committed suicide as she loved her children too much. Neither did he believe that she had fallen accidentally from the cliff.

Mr Craze said: "Putting it at its most succinct, did she fall accidentally, did she jump intentionally, or was she pushed? My feeling is this. If I asked 100 people who had heard the evidence over the three days and had seen and accessed Mr Ramsden and the other witnesses, if I asked them in their heart of hearts, 'Do you believe he killed his wife?' a very considerable number would say, 'Yes.' Certainly there is plenty of circumstantial evidence that would have given Paul Ramsden a motive for doing just that.

"As regards his character he would be perfectly capable. In my judgement he has been shown to be dishonest, egocentric, manipulative, streetwise and even possibly a control freak.

"I believe Paula would have followed him anywhere if he had asked. The question is has murder be proven? Is there any direct non-circumstantial evidence? Have all other possibilities been ruled out.

"The answer I give after very considerable reflection is no and accordingly I bring in an open verdict. I prefer the Scottish verdict of Not Proven to the English verdict of Not Guilty.

Explaining the events at Beachy Head Mr Ramsden said: "She kissed me on the lips and I started to walk away and I heard this scream. I was a couple of feet away. There was a scream. I must have spun round immediately shouting her name. I probably shouted it a few more times, looked around and then legged it to the car."

He said he then called the emergency services. When asked why witnesses said he had acted "oddly or inappropriately" he said: "Paula's death was incomprehensible, so I don't know what my reaction should have been or could have been.

As Mr Ramsden walked out of court Paula's father, Ken Cottle, said: "Keep looking over your shoulder lad."

Speaking through his solicitor Stuart Gray, Mr Ramsden said: " My life is completely ruined by the tragic loss of my wife. I didn't murder my wife. I loved her."

Sussex Police today pledged to re-examine all the evidence in the death of Mrs Ramsden and issued a fresh appeal for information focusing on any family members who may hold the vital clue in solving the death.