A HALE man has gone on trial charged with murdering the owner of a cattery in August 2012.

David Ryan, 47, of Byrom Street, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 54-year-old Diane Lee at her Cranage home on August 9, last year.

Brian Cummings QC, outlined the prosecution case at Chester Crown Court today.

A jury of 12 was sworn in and Mr Cummings then began his opening statement.

He told the court that Mrs Lee was found dead in the garage of her home after emergency services were called to reports of a fire.

That call was made by a neighbour after Mrs Lee's brother Colin Sherwin arrived at her home because he was unable to contact her.

He found the fire in the garage and broke in because the doors were locked.

A short while later, a police officer found the body of Mrs Lee at the back of the garage.

An attempt to burn her body had been made and she was found to have suffered serious head injuries.

The court was told that Mrs Lee had enjoyed a night at the Manzen Chinese restaurant, in Knutsford, the night before her death and left her friends shortly after 10pm.

Her Vauxhall Corsa was picked up on an ANPR camera driving north towards Altrincham at 10.35pm.

It was later spotted driving back towards her home at 11.17pm.

She had a lodger, Andrew Leese, and he last saw Diana at 7.30pm before she left for Knutsford.

He worked in Ormskirk and when he got up at 5.30am on the day of her death the house alarm was on, which indicated to him that Diana had returned home.

An off-duty police officer saw a Vauxhall Corsa drive away from Diana's house in Cranage at 10am on August 9 and a taxi driver later saw a man attempting to ‘torch’ the same car on Smith Lane in Mobberley.

Mr Ryan denies murdering Mrs Lee.

The case continues.