Chef Peter Wallner is accused of murdering his wife with a pan (Photo: Enterprise News)

Dead: Melanie Wallner (Photo: Surrey Police/PA Wire)

Peter Wallner told friends, family and work colleagues that wife Melanie had died from natural causes.

When her South African family travelled over, he staged a memorial service for her, even putting ashes from a barbeque into an urn to fool them she was dead.

But his scheme unravelled when he left the home they had shared last year to move in with his new girlfriend, the court heard.

Wallner stuffed the body into a wheelie bin but dustmen refused to take it, saying it was too heavy.

The landlord of the house spotted an ankle when he opened it to see what was inside, the Old Bailey heard.

‘He killed his wife with at least one deliberate blow using a heavy cast-iron pan,’ prosecutor Bobbie Cheema said.

‘He then ordered a freezer from Argos and, when it arrived a few days later, he put her body into it.

‘He left her there for nearly three years, telling friends, family and work colleagues and anyone else who inquired about her she died suddenly from natural causes.’

Wallner, 34, who had a series of girlfriends after his wife’s death, moved to Malta with new love Lilia Fenech but was arrested on his return.

He told police his wife attacked him and he hit her with the pan.

But Mrs Wallner, 30, was found to have been wearing an eye mask, Miss Cheema said, indicating she could have been asleep in bed when she was attacked in August 2006.

The next night, Wallner slept with work colleague Emma Harrison on the bed, while Mrs Warner’s body lay in the house, it was claimed.

‘He apparently had no qualms about sleeping with Emma in the same bed where his wife had died not 24 hours earlier,’ said Miss Cheema.

Wallner spun a web of lies, sending texts and using his wife’s credit card, before telling people she had died of a brain aneurysm, the court heard.

Wallner, 34, formerly of Cobham in Surrey, denies murder but admits manslaughter. The trial continues.

The former Head Chef at the aptly-named Nutfield, admitted that he kept his dead wife’s body on ice for several years, but he denied killing her.  For the UPI news story:  http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/09/16/Husband-admits-keeping-dead-wife-on-ice/UPI-22831253122641/   For the BBC news story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8258755.stm

Evidently, the Chef needed more room in his freezer, so he recently moved  the body to a trash dumpster outside the couple’s home in Cobham, Surrey.  Nosey neighbors noticed a foot, and became suspicious. (Mrs. Wallner had not been seen since 2006.)

In a court appearance at the Old Bailey in London, Chef Wallner pleaded guilty to “Preventing a Lawful and Decent Burial.” But he pleaded not guilty to murder.

[Disclosure: Rocky admits that elements of this story may be in "Bad Taste."   Nonetheless, it helps explain Rocky's preference for fresh ingredients, as well as  fastidious shredding of  confidential items   (which may include private parts) --  before -- placing them in the dumpster.] 

Chef Peter Wallner, 33, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to preventing the lawful and decent burial of Melanie Wallner.

The body of Melanie Wallner was found in a wheelie bin

Mrs Wallner, 30, who was last seen in August 2006, was discovered in a wheelie bin outside the family home in Hamilton Avenue, Cobham, Surrey, last year.

Her body is alleged to have been kept in a freezer for several years.

Wallner pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs Wallner between August 1 2006 and June 6 this year, when he was arrested after returning to the UK from Malta.

He was remanded in custody to face trial, provisionally fixed for November 30.

Peter Wallner, 33, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the ten-minute hearing at Woking Magistrates’ Court.

Photo of Melanie Wallner. Her husband has been remanded accused of her murder.

The body of his wife Melanie Wallner, 30, was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a three-bedroom suburban home in Hamilton Avenue, Cobham, Surrey, a week ago.

The German national is charged with the murder of Mrs Wallner between August 1 2006 and June 6 2009. He is further charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of her body between the same dates.

Bespectacled Wallner, dressed in a blue sweatshirt and jeans, was arrested by officers at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday.

Mrs Wallner’s body was discovered when a human foot was spotted protruding from the bin at the rented semi-detached house.

Chairman of the bench Robin Spray, remanded Wallner in custody until June 30 when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

No pleas were entered and there was no application for bail.

The body of Melanie Wallner, 32, was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a suburban home in Cobham, Surrey, last Saturday afternoon.

The body of Melanie, 32, was found dumped in a wheelie bin in Cobham, Surrey

Her husband, Peter Wallner, 33, of no fixed address, will appear at Woking Magistrates’ Court.

Wallner, who was stopped by officers at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday, is charged with her murder as well as preventing the lawful and decent burial of her body.

Mrs Wallner’s body was discovered only when a human foot was spotted protruding from the bin at the semi-detached house.

Detective Chief Inspector Maria Woodall, of Surrey Police, said: “Although someone has been charged with Melanie Wallner’s murder, the exact time of her death is still unclear.

“Therefore, I remain keen to hear from anyone we haven’t spoken to who has seen her since August 2006 or who knew her well around that time.

“The public response to this investigation has been very helpful and I would ask people with any information that could be useful to still get in touch.

“Police activity in Cobham will shortly be coming to a close, so I thank local residents for their support and patience this week.”

The body of Melanie Wallner, 32, was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a suburban home in Cobham, Surrey, last Saturday afternoon.

Charged: Peter Wallner

Her husband Peter Wallner, 33, who was stopped by officers at Gatwick Airport, was charged with her murder as well as preventing the lawful and decent burial of her body.

Police said Peter Wallner, 33, was stopped by officers at Gatwick Airport shortly after 8pm on Wednesday, and he is now being interviewed at a police station in Surrey.

The body of Melanie, 32, was found dumped in a wheelie bin in Cobham, Surrey

The body of his wife Melanie, 32, was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a suburban home in Cobham, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon.

Dental records confirmed Mrs Wallner’s identity on Wednesday and her next of kin have now been informed. Police said it is unclear when she died.

Detective Chief Inspector Maria Woodall said: “We have received varying accounts from Melanie’s family, friends and neighbours about her recent history.

“Some had thought she moved away from Surrey in the last few years and others believed she may have died in 2006.

“I am now asking for people’s help in building a picture of the last years of her life.

“The response to our investigation – both locally in Cobham and further afield – has been very supportive and we have received many useful phone calls.

“Melanie’s family are obviously very shocked at this time and we are determined, with the public’s help, to find them the truth about her death.”

Forensic experts are continuing a search of the address in Hamilton Avenue and officers have extended their house-to-house inquiries.

Peter Wallner, 33, was stopped by officers at Gatwick Airport shortly after 8pm yesterday. He is being interviewed at a police station in Surrey.

The body of his wife Melanie, 32, was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a suburban home in Cobham, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon.

Peter Wallner is making his way back to Britain after news of the hunt reached him in Malta, where he went with his girlfriend Lilia Fenech before the body was discovered.

Peter Wallner is making plans to return to Britain

‘He is keen to return to the UK to help us,’ said Det Ch Insp Maria Woodall of Surrey Police.

Mr Wallner, 33, and 23-year-old Miss Fenech moved out of the rented house in Cobham, Surrey, last month and took a ferry to Europe.

The decomposing corpse of the woman, in her 30s, was found by neighbours stuffed in the bin.

Her cause of death is still unknown but she suffered a serious head injury.

Peter Wallner, 33, and his partner, 23-year-old Lilia Fenech, have not been seen since the badly decomposed body was discovered hidden among rubbish outside a suburban home in Cobham, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon.

Lilia Fenech, 23, and Peter Wallner, 33, who are being sought by Surrey Police

The corpse, believed to be that of a white woman in her thirties, was only discovered after a human foot was spotted protruding from the bin of the semi-detached house.

Mr Wallner, from Germany, rented the property in Hamilton Avenue until roughly three weeks ago.

But the former chef was said to have bought two tickets for a cross-channel ferry on the evening of May 17. He is now believed to have fled overseas with his girlfriend.

Surrey Police said the couple may have taken three dogs – two Jack Russells and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier – with them.

Officers said Mr Wallner, now unemployed, hired a white VW Crafter van, with the registration number RV58 YDX, from a rental company in Surrey, on May 15. The vehicle, carrying two people, was spotted by cameras on the M25 in Kent and close to the docks at Dover two days later.

Mr Wallner, who was born in Germany, is described by police as a heavy-built white man, with broad shoulders, roughly six feet in height, with slightly-receding brown cropped hair and brown eyes.

Miss Fenech is said to be a slim white woman with a Mediterranean complexion, with dark hair and dark eyes. She is described as being between 5ft 5″ and 5ft 7″ and could be wearing glasses.

The pair, both of whom have European connections, are thought to have “places to go” on the continent.

Peter Wallner was already being hunted after neighbours spotted a woman’s arm poking from a bin outside his home in Cobham, Surrey.

Sought: Lilia Fenech and Peter Wallner

But police today also named his possible travelling companion, 23-year-old Lilia Fenech, as they stepped up their search.

Wallner, 33, is said to have bought two cross-channel ferry tickets for the evening of May 17, when he was last seen.

The pair may have with them two Jack Russells and a Staffordshire bull terrier, Surrey Police today said.

The unidentified woman’s body was discovered on Saturday afternoon.

The woman, in her thirties, was found to have suffered a serious head wound, though a post-mortem could not be more specific about cause of death.

Neighbours say the rubbish inside the bin had gone uncollected for three weeks.

Mr Wallner is said to have been hired a VW Crafter van, registration number RV58 YDX, on May 15, in which he was spotted by cameras on the M25 near Dover two days later.

Police described German-born Wallner as heavy-built, about 6ft tall, and with broad shoulders, slightly-receding brown cropped hair and brown eyes.

Although recently unemployed, he used to work as a chef at Woodlands Park Hotel, near Cobham.

Officers described Miss Fenech as white with a Mediterranean complexion, 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in tall and slim, with dark hair and dark eyes and possibly wearing glasses.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: “Mr Wallner and Miss Fenech lived at the rented property in Hamilton Avenue until roughly three weeks ago and their whereabouts are unknown.”

The search was mounted after neighbours spotted a foot sticking out of the bin in the front garden of a house vacated three weeks ago.

Guard: Police stand outside the house vacated by Peter Wallner, inset, three weeks ago

The dead woman, thought to be in her 30s, was badly decomposed and has yet to be identified.

Police want to speak to Peter Wallner, who recently moved out of the £235,000 suburban property.

The 33-year-old is being sought by detectives, who said he might be able to help the murder inquiry.

Mr Wallner moved into the house in Cobham, Surrey, four years ago with his then-wife Melanie.

But neighbours said the couple split up and she moved out more than a year ago.

A neighbour told how she had previously seen the German-born man staring at her from his garden a month ago.

Christine Surin added: ‘My husband said, “Don’t look now but there’s a man staring at you”.

‘I looked around and we could see each other through a gap in the fence.

‘He didn’t wave or anything, he just stared. I found it a little creepy.’

Mr Wallner moved out of the property weeks ago but, yesterday, another neighbour said he had seen people in the property only last week.

Another woman had also lived at the house with Mr Wallner.

The alarm was raised on Saturday when neighbours made the discovery of the body, stuffed in the bin and surrounded by rubbish.

Meanwhile, police circulated a description of Mr Wallner to forces in Britain and Europe.

‘We have a team of detectives investigating his movements since he left the house,’ a spokesman added.

Results of a post-mortem examination into the cause of death of the woman were expected to be released last night if there was a conclusive cause of death.

Officers were alerted by a member of the public at 3.20pm on Saturday after a human foot was spotted protruding from the bin at a semi-detached property in Cobham, Surrey.

Police are investigating after woman’s body was found in wheelie bin

When a forensic team arrived and carefully emptied the contents of the bin they discovered the body lying among rubbish.

After launching a murder inquiry, Surrey Police said they urgently wanted to speak to a man who used to live at the house in Hamilton Avenue.

“Scenes of crime officers carefully emptied the bin to preserve forensic opportunities, recovering the full intact body of a white woman, believed to be in her 30s, which had been surrounded by rubbish,” a police spokesman said.

Detectives are focusing their inquiries on locating Peter Wallner, 33, who moved out of the address roughly three weeks ago. His whereabouts are currently unknown. He is described by police as a heavy-built white man, with broad shoulders, roughly six feet in height, with slightly-receding brown cropped hair and brown eyes.

Police were at the scene conducting house-to-house inquiries.

The semi-detached house, which has an estate agent’s For Sale board outside and is just metres from a children’s play area, was taped off and guarded by two officers .A white tent could be seen covering the small driveway beside the property’s wooden front door.

Surrey Police later said a post-mortem examination had proved inconclusive. It revealed signs of a serious head injury, but could not confirm this had caused the woman’s death.

Sources said it was believed the body had been in the bin for around three weeks.