Luton buried body: Man cleared in Natalia Wilkanowska trial

A man has been cleared of any involvement in the discovery of a woman's body found buried under rubble at his home.

Natalia Wilkanowska, 50, disappeared in 2003 after visiting her ex-husband, Gerald Doherty, in Luton.

His brothers, Joseph and Daniel, were accused of helping to conceal her remains and lying to police.

Daniel Doherty was cleared after the judge at Luton Crown Court directed the jury to find him not guilty.

The 67-year-old, of Icknield Way, Luton, was cleared of two charges of perverting the course of justice, two charges of obstructing a coroner by aiding and abetting the concealment of a body, lying to police, and preventing a lawful burial.

His brother, Joseph Doherty, 73, from Old Greenock Road, Port Glasgow, Scotland, remains on trial.

He denies one charge of perverting the course of justice, one of obstructing the coroner by giving a false account of Ms Wilkanowska's death and one charge of preventing her lawful burial.

The jury were told he would not be giving evidence to the court.

Gerald Doherty committed suicide in July 2003, about four months after Natalia was last seen by her children before she left her home in Eastbourne for Luton.

Her children believed she was missing but Joseph later allegedly revealed to family members Gerald had confessed to killing his ex-wife during an argument and chopping up her body.

The court heard police found her body under rubble in Daniel Doherty's garden in Icknield Way in December 2015. A pathologist said she had suffered trauma to the skull.

Daniel Doherty told police he did not know the remains were in his garden and did not have exclusive access to the property.

The trial continues against his brother.