A man who murdered his wife more than 25 years ago has appeared in court accused of asking their son to dig up her remains in an attempt to convince police she was still alive.

Andrew Griggs was jailed for life in 2019 for killing pregnant mum-of-three Debbie Griggs - 20 years after he had reported her missing from their home in Deal and despite her body not being found.

Her remains were eventually uncovered in October 2022, buried in the back garden of a house in Dorset that Griggs had moved to two years after her disappearance.

However, it is now alleged that prior to the discovery, and after his murder conviction, Griggs tried to involve one of the couple’s three sons in a ploy to falsely prove she was still alive.

The fresh charges accuse him of asking Jake Griggs to dig up his own mother’s remains and remove part of her hair, before travelling to another country and sending the sample and a letter professing to be from Debbie back to the UK.

It is said that the intention of this alleged offence was to pervert the course of public justice.

Debbie’s body was found on October 5, 2022, by police acting on “fresh information”.

Griggs appeared via videolink at Medway Magistrates’ Court this morning in front of District Judge Stephen Leake.

He is also accused of obstructing a coroner in the execution of their duty by burying his wife’s body in an unknown place, preventing an inquest into her death from being held.

Griggs only spoke to confirm his name, age and that he is a serving prisoner at HMP Isle Of Wight.

The case was sent to Maidstone Crown Court without any pleas being entered.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, told the judge Griggs was already serving a life sentence after being convicted of his wife’s murder in 2019.

He was remanded in custody until his next hearing, which will be held at the crown court on March 13.