Will fraud: Police had to dig up bodies at night...

The decision to re-examine the buried bodies came as officers investigating the possible £1.8 million fraud started to suspect that perhaps the pensioners had not died of natural causes.

Before dawn on July 17, 1998, police officers, a home office pathologist and grave diggers gathered around the double grave for their grisly task.

Law dictates that bodies must be exhumed before sunrise.

It was not a decision that was taken lightly by any of those involved in the investigation.

A post mortem was carried out by the Home Office pathologist the same day in London.

Forensic evidence revealed the presence of sedative drugs.

However, the prosecution was in no position to prove who may or may not have administered the drugs and their effect on embalmed bodies.

Det Supt David Bright, who led the investigation, said: "What was most upsetting was that both Miss Kay and Mr Wedd had been buried.

"It went against their express wishes stated in the wills that they should be cremated.

"We suspect it was part of a double bluff by the Spillmans - that they would have had the bodies cremated if there was evidence they wanted to hide."

After the examinations it was agreed by Miss Kay's only surviving relative, her cousin Margaret Collins, that Miss Kay and Mr Wedd's final wish for a cremation should be granted.

Both were cremated on December 2, 1998.

Supt Bright said: "It was only right and proper that their last wish, all be it delayed, was eventually fulfiled and that, in time, the correct beneficiaries will benefit from her estate."

What accused said...

Solicitor John Twitchen held a conference with the Spillmans after concerns were raised about the validity of the new will. He recorded their discussions and a detailed statement was produced.

The conversation was led by Annette Spillman. Here is an excerpt:

"Annie and Patrick moved into our home in July 1996 when it became clear they could not care for each other in the bungalow.

"Both had their marbles despite their physical difficulties.

"Our concern was to treat them kindly and help them live in a decent way for as long as they could.

"Sometimes she said 'I have no one to leave my money to. I have no family.' David and I never picked up on these remarks. We were not interested.

"Another time she said 'I will leave you something in my will'. I did not question her about this. I would not have done as she would have realised I was being manipulative. She was an intelligent woman.

"I had no idea Annie was such a wealthy woman until her death.

"When Peter Boardman of Coopers and Lingard visited, Annie asked me to stay in the room saying she was not sure she would hear everything he was saying.

"As Mr Boardman read out the will, Annie kept looking across at me, pulling faces and winking.

"It appeared Mr Boardman was hankering for her to leave her money to charity. It was obvious to me she did not want to do this.

"I said, 'Annie you do not have to make up your mind now'."

Disabled will benefit from £1m will

by NICOLA TAYLOR

Thousands of disabled children and adults will benefit from the £1 million left to Scope by Annie Kay.

My daughter could be one of them.

At almost three years old, she cannot walk or talk. With the help of Scope, myself and my partner have been given the hope that one day she might do both of these actions most of us take for granted.

We attend their School for Parents classes, where Elinor is given physio, speech and occupational therapy in a fun, interesting environment.

We are given invaluable advice and information, loaned equipment and shown exercises to help Elinor reach her full potential.

I shudder to think how much it would cost if we had to pay to access such a high level of expertise.

It is available free to us and hundreds of other families, thanks to generous donations like Annie Kay's.

Like all good charities, Scope, which used to be known as the Spastics Society, is there for all those who need it. It provides a free telephone advice line, which is often the first port of call for the relatives and friends of disabled people to obtain help.

Before my daughter was born I knew little about cerebral palsy, which is basically malformation of the brain triggered either before, during or after birth.

One in 400 people have the condition, which often occurs with no warning.

Cerebral palsy affects the ability of people to control their muscles and can vary from being barely noticeable to extremely severe. No two people are affected in exactly the same way.

Nearly 300 local support groups are affiliated to Scope, and the charity employs field workers who offer daily support and advice on issues such as money, schooling, and health care.

Through my contact with the charity I have been impressed with its professionalism, tight organisation and communication.

It is also a strident campaigning organisation.

All this costs money. A third of Scope's funds comes from wills.

Sophie Howells, spokeswoman for the charity, said: "Legacies are vital to Scope. They allow the charity to plan ahead with greater security."

Cousin's worries as letters dry-up

Annie Kay's only close living relative is her cousin Margaret Collins.

They had been friendly when they were younger and corresponded regularly in their latter years.

Miss Collins, 78, also a spinster, enjoyed receiving Miss Kay's well-written, newsy letters.

She became concerned in 1997 when she received no reply from Annie.

Miss Collins, who lives in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, said: "She wrote to me so regularly that when I didn't get a letter I thought something must have happened.

"I contacted the Spillmans and was told that Annie had died nine months earlier. I was very surprised but also suspicious as the Spillmans told me they did not know she had any living relatives.

"I knew they had my address."

Miss Collins sent off for a copy of Annie's death certificate and discovered she had died of old age and heart failure on March 12.

She then requested a copy of the will "not because I was expecting anything and had heard nothing but was concerned because everything didn't seem to be as it should".

Mrs Collins then discovered the will was being investigated by the police.

She said: "I am bewildered at what has happened.

"Annie was an uncomplicated person who lived a quiet life. She should not have been treated in this way."

Happier times - Annie, right, on the beach with some of her friends in her youth

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.