A MAN accused of murdering his mother-in-law told police investigating her disappearance: "I'm her favourite son-in-law".

Muhammed Arshad, 37, also claimed that Zainab Begum, 56, of Burnley Road, Accrington, was suicidal, Preston Crown Court heard.

At that time, police were just beginning to suspect that her disappearance may have been more than a missing person inquiry, the court was told.

Two days later, Arshad was arrested on suspicion of murder and accused of cutting up Mrs Begum with a cleaver-type tool, before pouring caustic soda over the body parts.

Her body, the prosecution alleges, was stored in bags at a takeaway run by Arshad and his brother - Millennium, on Church Street, Accrington.

The court has heard that it is not known where the body ended up.

Arshad has pleaded not guilty to murder and his brother, Mohammed Sharif Khan, 37, of Crumpsall, Manchester, denies helping to dispose of the body.

The court heard yesterday that Arshad, also of Crumpsall, made a statement to police searching for Mrs Begum, a mother of six and divorced from her husband, on January 26. That was 13 days after she had disappeared.

He told officers that they had confided in each other after his wife had an affair with his wife's brother-in-law.

Part of the statement read: "My relationship with my mother-in-law is very good and I believe I am the favourite son-in-law.

"We would go for walks to the hilly area behind Avenue Parade (The Coppice) and she would talk to me and tell me about her problems as though I was her agony aunt.

"She was stressed but when she talked to me she would relax.

"What most upset her was that my wife had an immoral relationship and broke up the family.

"My mother-in-law was very distressed. She talked about committing suicide and I told her not to say such things and that she had two more daughters to marry off."

On the day that Arshad made the statement voluntarily to police, the jury was told, forensic scientists were beginning to search a home in Burnley Road, Millennium and Khan's car for blood.

Pamela Bower, a forensic biologist from a Stockport company, used a spray called Luminol which shows up blood that the eye cannot see.

She told the court blood was found in the bedroom, landing and bathroom of the Burnley Road house.

(Proceeding)