ALLEGED murder victim Evelyn Lund once threatened to kill herself by overdosing on depression pills, a court heard.

Barbara Bullen, a retired nursing assistant who had known Mrs Lund for more than 20 years, said that her friend had "squandered" the inheritance left by her wealthy first husband.

She said that the 52-year-old was so poor that she could not afford to buy her family Christmas presents but she kept up a "public facade of wealth".

Mrs Bullen said that one day Evelyn locked herself in the shower at her home and threatened to overdose on tablets the doctor had given her for depression.

She told the jury in the French town of Albi that her friend was "destroyed by alcohol".

She said: "Evelyn wouldn't accept that she had a drinking problem and after she moved to France she got more and more depressed, and drank more.

"She was a very kind person who was destroyed by alcohol."

Robert Lund, 55, originally from Darwen, is on trial for murdering his Rossendale-born wife.

Mrs Bullen said: "Everybody thought she was well-off, but she had no money, and had even got into debt.

"She spent her money on silly things, and she was very, very generous, especially with her family.

"She was upset that she couldn't send her children any Christmas presents - she said she had no money."

Lund has always maintained that he played no part in his wife's death, and claims that she died after driving into the lake by accident.

Mrs Bullen, who has lived in Lund's farmhouse since 2003, denied that she is more than friends with the defendant.

Herve Renier, the lawyer for Mrs Lund's children, said: "Several witnesses have said your relationship with Mr Lund was more than just friendship. What do you think about that?"

"I think it's a load of ***p," Mrs Bullen replied.

(proceeding)