Open verdict in inquest of man missing since 2007

A man originally charged with murdering Terry McSpadden, who went missing from his home town of Wisbech almost ten years ago, has been giving evidence at his inquest.

Mr McSpadden, 24 and a father of two, was last seen in the early hours of March 2nd 2007. Although his body has never been found, detectives are convinced he was killed.

Jonathan Porter from Elm near Wisbech was charged with his murder in 2012 but the case was dismissed in 2013 because of lack of evidence.

Today a statement from Mr Porter was read out by Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake. He agreed that he'd been playing darts with Terry the night before he disappeared and then went to Tesco supermarket in Wisbech with him but declined on legal advice to say whether it was his signature on the statement and whether the contents were true.

He was asked by the Coroner what he knew of Terry's disappearance. Again on legal advice, he declined to answer.

Tony Deacon, a former police officer who now works on unsolved cases, told the inquest in Norwich there was no proof that Terry McSpadden was alive after being seen on CCTV at Tesco early on March 2nd 2007.

said Mr Deacon.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Jacqueline Lake said that should any further evidence come to light it was possible another inquest could be heard.

Watch Natalie Gray's report below