Murder trial told of ‘friendship ring’ purchase
A ring seen on the finger of Helen Elizabeth Milner just over two months after the death of her husband was a “friendship ring”, according to the man who bought it for her.
Barry Keith Hayton told the ninth day of 50-year-old Milner’s murder trial that he had bought it for her at The Palms shopping centre on July 12, 2009, for $2299.
Her husband Philip James Nisbet was found dead in his bed on May 4, 2009, and Milner is charged with his murder. The Crown alleges he was drugged and suffocated but the defence says the death was suicide.
Milner’s defence counsel, Margaret Sewell, cross-examined Mr Hayton who had given evidence of forming a relationship with Milner after her husband’s funeral. He had not heard from Milner for more than a year before the death, but attended the funeral, and the court was told of the exchange of texts that took place in the following weeks.
Miss Sewell told Mr Hayton that the ring had been referred to at the trial as an engagement ring.
He said it was a friendship ring. The two had discussed marriage but he had not proposed to her.
Milner’s details were on the purchase docket because of warranty considerations, he said.
Milner denies two charges of attempting to murder 47-year-old Mr Nisbet in April 2009, and murdering him the following month.
The jury asked a question about text messages in which Mr Hayton had spelled always, as “allways”, three times. He said it was the way he normally spelt it, and explained he was partly dyslexic.
He was then shown a suicide note that has been produced in evidence at the trial which includes the word “allways”. He was asked by Miss Sewell if he had seen the note before and if he wrote it. He said he had not seen it nor wrote it. “There’s words there I can’t spell,” he said.
Category: News
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