A bodybuilder allegedly murdered by his wife was taking steroids before he died of a huge overdose of medicinal drugs, a court heard.

An Old Bailey jury heard yesterday it was "common knowledge" that Julian Webb was taking steroids before his death at home in Douglas Close, Yapton, near Arundel, nine years ago.

Dena Thompson, 43, Mr Webb's wife at the time, is accused of murdering him with a lethal dose of aspirin and anti-depressants, possibly hidden in a hot curry.

Thompson, who denies murder, claims Mr Webb committed suicide after becoming depressed, drinking heavily and taking steroids.

The court heard that Thompson's neighbour, Jacqueline Howells, told police last year: "Julian knew about steroids and he used to take steroids.

"There is no secret about that."

Referring to a row between Thompson and Mr Webb after she discovered his steroid use, Mrs Howells said: "I can't see why she'd get upset about that particularly.

"We knew he was taking steroids so I don't see why she didn't."

Earlier the jury heard evidence from several friends who believed Mr Webb had long given up steroids after briefly experimenting with them.

Mrs Howells described her shock on discovering Mr Webb was dead. She said she was woken by a noise outside her house in the early hours of July 1, 1994.

She said: "I went out the front door. There was a light shining from Dena's front door.

"I went out across the front of our house and went round the front door and called out to her, asking if she was all right.

"Dena came down and she said she couldn't wake Julian. He wasn't breathing.

"I think she said she had tried to do CPR but wasn't able to do that."

An ambulance arrived within minutes and Mrs Howells followed Thompson and the paramedics upstairs.

She told the court: "Julian was lying on the bed. The bedcovers had been pulled back. His head was to one side."

Mrs Howells said the paramedics asked Thompson if Julian had taken anything.

Thompson said she thought he had and went upstairs before producing two pill bottles from a cabinet beside their bed.

Mrs Howells said Thompson had told her Mr Webb had been drinking "that evening".

The court has heard that Mr Webb's body contained no alcohol when his blood and urine were analysed after his death.

The trial continues.