A WOMAN accused of having an affair with the man claimed to have murdered teenager Hannah Foster broke down in court as she branded the accusation “a lie”.

Judge Mr Justice Keith briefly adjourned the court to allow Carole Dennis time to compose herself as she sobbed “I have never had an affair with Mr Kohli”.

Mrs Dennis later said the first she had heard of Kohli’s claims that he had been having a relationship with her was just nine days ago, as the trial was under way, when police were sent to re-interview her.

The brief halt to the case came when mum-of-one Mrs Dennis was responding to questions from defence barrister Abbas Lakha QC, who during cross examination yesterday claimed the “affair” was the reason her husband, James Dennis, had lent Kohli £16,000.

Mr Lakha suggested that the reason he continued to pay Kohli money was because he feared the secret relationship would be made public if he stopped. Jurors heard how when she became suspicious that Kohli may have been involved in the abduction and killing of Hannah she told colleagues without her husband knowing.

Mrs Dennis agreed when Mr Lakha suggested her husband had not wanted to contact police when she eventually told him of her concerns.

Re-examined by prosecutor Nicholas Haggan QC, Mrs Dennis said she felt “very upset, disbelief” when she became aware of Kohli’s claims.

Mr Haggan said: “Did you have the first idea that Mr Kohli was saying he’d had sex with you?”

Mrs Dennis replied: “No I did not.”

Kohli, 40, denies the abduction, false imprisonment, rape and murder of Hannah, 17, whose body was found in Allington Lane, West End, in March 2003.

Proceeding.