I have no reason to lie, murder-accused taxi driver says as he begins evidence

A taxi driver accused of murdering a prostitute vowed to tell the truth as he began giving evidence in his defence - insisting he had no reason to lie.

Christopher Halliwell, 52, is accused of murdering Becky Godden, 20, who was last seen alive more than a decade ago in Swindon.

Her body was found in a shallow grave in a field in rural Eastleach, Gloucestershire, in 2011, Bristol Crown Court has previously heard.

Halliwell had led police to Miss Godden's grave after being arrested on suspicion of kidnapping missing office worker Sian O'Callaghan in March 2011.

The father of three told the jury: "I want to start by saying I am telling the truth. I have no reason to lie - getting life anyway and I have no real prospect of getting out and I deserve every day anyway.

"What happened between me and Sian - my actions were brutal. What I put Sian's family through was inhuman.

"Whether I get out or not is irrelevant; whether you the jury find me guilty or not guilty doesn't matter.

"I come here to tell the truth. I already said last Thursday you won't like what you are going to hear."

Halliwell, formerly of Ashbury Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, denies a single charge of murder.