Cheating hubby ‘burnt his wife to death and made it look like she blew herself up making a bacon sandwich’
Darren Byrne, 40, is accused of knocking out Maria when she found out about his affair, then dousing her in white spirit and setting her alight
A CHEATING husband burned his wife alive and made it look like she blew herself up making a bacon sandwich, a court heard.
Darren Byrne is said to have knocked out mum of two Maria when she found out about his affair.
He then doused her in white spirit and set her on fire, it is said.
Chelmsford crown court heard Mrs Byrne had caught her husband cheating with married lover Deborah Houlihan and made him swear he would end the affair.
But she found her husband writing a text to the London-based chiropractor and confronted him at their home, in Theydon Bois, Essex, on February 13.
Jurors heard he turned on the gas and went out, hoping a blast would destroy their home.
He is then alleged to have moved Maria’s burnt body to make the death look like a cooking mishap.