Wife's honeymoon ordeal in NZ with murder accused

Felicity Drumm at the High Court Glasgow. She gave evidence in the trial of Malcolm Webster. Photo / Iain McLellan, Spindrift

The New Zealand wife of murder accused Malcolm Webster told a Scottish jury how she slept for 36 hours on the first night of her honeymoon - after he gave her a cup of tea.

And Felicity Ann Drumm described two further episodes on their romantic break when she experienced double vision, felt unwell and then fell into a deep sleep.

Webster, 51, denies attempting to murder Ms Drumm by deliberately crashing their car in Auckland in February 1999.

Her death would have netted him more than £500,000 ($1.073 million).

He also denies murdering his first wife, Claire Morris, by staging a fireball crash in Aberdeenshire in May 1994 as part of a £200,000 insurance fraud.

Webster is also accused of drugging both women.

Prosecutor Derek Ogg, QC, asked Ms Drumm if anything unusual happened on their New Zealand honeymoon.

The oncology nursing specialist said they travelled to Cooks Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, intending to stay for three nights.

They stopped at a store and bought fish for the first night and lamb chops for the second.

Ms Drumm, 50, told the court: "The first evening I cooked fish for dinner and watched a bit of TV after the meal.

"I went to bed and then woke up the next morning.

"Through events it became clear it was 36 hours later rather than the following morning."

Mr Ogg: "When did you find out it was the following morning?"

Ms Drumm: "I came out to start making breakfast and noticed the chops had gone from the fridge.

"That is when Malcolm told me it was a day later and that did I not recall that we had them last night for dinner."

Mr Ogg: "Did he suggest that a day had elapsed that you had forgotten about?" Ms Drumm: "Yes."

Asked if she was concerned, Mrs Drumm replied: "I was very concerned. I thought it was quite extraordinary."

The court heard that her last memory before going to sleep was having a cup of tea her new husband made for her.

Ms Drumm said she had only two glasses of wine and had not taken any medication or recreational drugs.

The witness said Webster told her she was drowsy and he could not wake her.

She said: "I felt strongly that if the roles had been reversed I would have sought medical help.

"He said that if I had not woken up on that next morning he would have done something then."

Ms Drumm also said Webster believed she may have been "stressed" after moving back to New Zealand and getting married in the same month.

A week later, the newlyweds were travelling in the North Island when Ms Drumm said she felt unwell and started getting double vision.

The court heard her symptoms started within half an hour of drinking water her husband had bought.

Ms Drumm said: "There was that sensation when you don't have control of your senses, as if you are really drunk."

Asked what happened next, she revealed: "On that occasion I slept for 18 hours."

Ms Drumm also confirmed her husband did not seek any medical attention.

She also told the court she had never experienced symptoms like it in her life and was in good health before the honeymoon.

Ms Drumm said she raised concerns with her husband several times.

"I was frightened and feeling quite anxious about what was going on.

"But his response was quite glib and he did not think it was a big deal."

The third occasion occurred on the final morning of their honeymoon, after Webster had bought breakfast.

Mrs Drumm said: "Once again I got that feeling of being drunk and unsteady on my feet."

A short time later, when she arrived at her parents' home, Malcolm and her mother had to help her inside.

This time she slept for about six hours.

Ms Drumm visited a GP for a check-up and had blood tests but not a toxicology test.

Ms Drumm said she was told she could have a viral infection, epilepsy or even a brain tumour.

Earlier the court heard the couple married on April 26, 1997 and had a 12-year-old son called Ned.

Ms Drumm, moved to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in October 1993 and returned to New Zealand in April 1997.

During that time she was able to pay off her $100,000 mortgage, an $18,000 loan and save $50,000.

The court also heard she met Malcolm in May 1996 while working in the Gulf at a friend's dinner party.