Prosecution begins in Pamela Jackson murder trial

The body of Pamela Jackson was found buried in a shallow grave in West Yorkshire moorland Credit: Durham Constabulary

The trial has started of a man accused of murdering County Durham woman Pamela Jackson.

The prosecution described the area in which the shallow grave containing the 55-year-old's body was found as "bleak West Yorkshire moorland" off the B6138.

When forensic specialists uncovered the burial site, a plastic Tesco bag was found on top of her body, which was left in a foetal position.

Analysis of Muir's phone showed it travelled down the A1 on the evening of 3 March from Chester-le-Street, across the Pennines, to the moors where the grave was later found.

Muir did not claim anyone else had used his phone, the court heard.

Her blood was discovered at her home, and also in his Kia car, the court heard.

Soil samples found in the footwell of his car linked him to the grave site, the jury was told.

Mr Robertson said Muir did not leave a suicide note, but "dictated his feelings on his phone and thus the police were able to eventually retrieve his own recordings of his own voice, we say, confession to his crime."

The trial could run until the end of September. Adrian Muir denies murder.