The man accused of the murder of SCOLA teacher Lynda Casey had to be rushed to hospital after hyperventilating in court.

Peter Ling, of Wallington, was unable to contain his emotions as parts of his police interview were read out to the jury.

The 50-year-old had just heard John Coffey QC and Detective Constable Andy Grimshaw re-enact his police interview.

The court had heard Mr Ling describe Mrs Casey as a “lovely” person.

He said: “She was intelligent, attractive and a very passionate person. We had lots of interests in gardening and a passionate relationship too.

“Everything was fine. We had lots of shared interests. She was lovely with a great sense of humour.

“Debbie (Ling's wife) was not as happy-go-lucky as you like sometimes. Lynda was fun to be around and very good looking. I thought it was worth something.

“But I cared so much about Debbie and I’d never been unfaithful to her. Lynda was the first, which is why it was all the more crushing.”

Mr Ling was asked by Det Con Grimwood why he had travelled to Minehead, Somerset after his “attack” on Mrs Casey.

He said: “Its a lovely part of the world. I don’t know if people sometimes commit suicide there. I suppose that’s why I went. I needed to get my head together."

Mr Ling also added that his wife had told him “not to do anything stupid”.

Det Con Grimwood asked the defendant why he did not phone the police to tell them where Mrs Casey was.

He said: “You lied to the police when they were looking for Lynda who was in the woods. You couldn’t have her so no one could have her.

“You hit her until she stopped making noises. There was no way she was going to do anything but die.

“Please tell me if events are not as cold and calculated as they sounds.

Mr Ling replied: “It wasn’t like that at all. I can’t think straight, it wasn’t cold and calculating. It makes me sound some sort of cold-blooded killer.

“I didn’t set out to kill her cold bloodedly. What can I say in my defence? I haven’t got any.”

It was at this point that Mr Ling began to become upset and left court.

Judge Giles Forrester later told the jury about Mr Ling’s condition. He said: “As you can see the defendant is missing from the dock. The reason is the defendant is unwell.

“He is unfit for the trial to continue at the moment. The trial cannot proceed in his absence while he is unwell.

“It is hoped that he is fit to continue on Monday morning.”

Mrs Casey’s naked body was found by sniffer dogs on August 12 in Banstead Woods.

The trial, which is expected to last until the middle of next week, continues.