Police officers told the jury at the murder trial of swimming instructor Martin Sugden that no evidence of Donavan Van Lill’s body has ever been found.

Sugden, 42, of Clanville Bar near Stanton St Quintin, is charged with murdering 29-year-old South African fitness instructor Mr Van Lill who disappeared from his Chippenham home on March 3 last year.

Sergeant Glen Bremner told the court that despite a thorough search along both sides of the M4 motorway, land around Clanville Bar as well as nearby lakes and the Avon River no sign of Mr Van Lill has ever been detected.

Wiltshire Police Crime Scene Investigator James Tucker also told the jury that a forensic search of Clanville Bar had recovered no DNA evidence of Mr Van Lill.

PC Timothy Cook, of Wiltshire Police’s High Tech Crime Unit, told the court how he had searched Sugden’s computer which was seized after he was arrested on March 19, 2010.

He confirmed internet searches had been made for serial killer Ted Bundy and the words ‘Mexican narco girlfriend limbs cut off’.

The computer also recorded visits to www.crimelibrary.com in 2007 which contained information about serial killers and their methods.

Earlier the court heard evidence from Rebecca Herbert who had been in a relationship with Mr Van Lill.

Defence counsel Ignatius Hughes QC referred to the statement she gave to police last year after Mr Van Lill went missing.

He said: “Mr Van Lill destroyed your self confidence, he spat at you and hit you when he got angry and he cheated on you?

She answered: “Yes.”

Miss Herbert told the court at that time she was also in a relationship with Ben Yates, the son of Karl Frost, also known as Jack, manager of Karma nightclub in Chippenham, which is owned by Mike Rosser.

Mr Yates was called to give evidence and was questioned by Mr Hughes who suggested his father, Mr Frost, would have known about the treatment received by Miss Herbert.

He replied that although Mr Frost knew of Miss Herbert he was unlikely to be aware of the details of her relationship with Mr Van Lill.

Also giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court was former Olympiad employee, Sam Cook, who had had a sexual relationship with both Mr Van Lill and Mr Rosser.

Under cross examination from Mr Hughes, she told the court she had taken part in a foursome with Mr Van Lill, his friend Dominic Giraud and landlord Howard Davis.

She admitted she is still in a sexual relationship with Mr Rosser but denied Mr Hughes’ suggestion that he was jealous about her previous liaison with Mr Van Lill.

The trial continues