A JEALOUS husband stabbed to death his estranged wife and her Oxfordshire boyfriend before setting fire to her home to cover his tracks, a court has heard.

Alex Marshall, 37, is alleged to have murdered 41-year-old Fiona Marshall - the stepsister of Carphone Warehouse tycoon David Ross - at her bungalow in Brampton Ash, Northamptonshire, before dousing it with petrol and setting it ablaze.

Marshall, of Irchester Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, is also accused of murdering his wife's new lover Richard Flippance, 44, of Thame, at the property in the early hours of April 2 last year, Birmingham Crown Court was told yesterday.

Prosecutor David Fisher said Mrs Marshall and Mr Flippance had met through an online dating agency about a month before they were killed.

He said the defendant, who had subjected his wife to domestic abuse, had learned about their relationship by "spying" on her after hacking into an internet dating account and reading her e-mails.

The Marshalls, who had first met while working together at Harrods in London, had a seven-year-old son and were going through a divorce at the time.

Mr Fisher said that the defendant had learned, by reading his wife's emails, that she and Mr Flippance would be together on the night they were murdered.

He said: "The prosecution allege that Alex Marshall made his way to the bungalow knowing that it was highly likely his estranged wife Fiona Marshall would be there with her new boyfriend Richard Flippance who was staying overnight for the first time."

Marshall has denied two counts of murder and one of arson.

The case continues.