A WOMAN was kidnapped and driven to a barn where she discovered the body of her dead husband, a court was told.

Two men drove Julie Waters from her home in Nantwich, Cheshire, to Burnt House Farm, Tabley, where she found the body of her battered husband Brian.

Her two grown-up children and another man were also tied up there.

Four men are charged with Mr Waters' death: James Stuart Raven (45), of Parnham Close, Radcliffe; Otis Matthews (27), of Manchester; Ashley Guishard (30), of Sale and John Godfrey Wilson (54), of Glossop. They have denied murder and causing grievous bodily harm to another man, Suleman Razak. Raven also denies indecent assault.

Mrs Waters told Chester Crown Court her husband had become involved in drug dealing and ran a cannabis farm at the disused barn.

On June 19 last year, she received a phone call from her agitated son who said two "friends" were coming round to see her.

They told her that her husband had upset a lot of people and they wanted £20,000.

The jury was told the men searched the rooms looking for money and found a secret but empty compartment in a closet.

A mobile phone was passed to Mrs Waters with a voice at the other end saying: "Tell them where the money is".

Mrs Waters said she could hear her daughter Natalie (22) in the background shouting "mum".

She said: "I just cried into the phone: 'don't hurt my baby. Leave her alone'."

Mrs Waters was then taken to the farmhouse lying down in the back seat of a car, covered by a blanket.

At the farm, Mrs Waters saw her daughter and her son Gavin (26) along with Mr Suleman Razak, tied up with tape around their mouths. They pointed to where her husband's battered body was lying.

The court earlier heard from pathologist Dr Alison Armour that the injuries suffered by Mr Waters were so severe they were more consistent with that of a road accident victim.

Mr Waters (44) died of multiple injuries, including 24 rib fractures and a collapsed lung. Staples from a staple gun had allgedly been fired into him and caustic substances dripped onto his skin.

Mr Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, showed the jury photographs as Dr Armour described the 123 external injuries she found.

(Proceeding)