Maxine Hill told Leeds Crown Court she wants whoever brutally attacked the 73-year-old brought to justice – but does not think her husband of 20 years, David Hill, would ever hurt her.

The prosecution claims Hill bludgeoned Mrs Wright repeatedly over the head with a heavy, curved weapon after “losing his temper” during a confrontation at her home in Redhill Gardens on Wednesday September 27 2006.

It is alleged he was £20,000 in debt and had been altering and photocopying bank statements to hide that he was taking money from a joint bank account he shared with Mrs Wright for their greeting cards and toy stall at Castleford indoor market.

Hill, 48, of Lakeside Meadows, Pontefract, says he discovered the grandma-of-five’s body and tried to save her.

He denies murder.

Mrs Hill, a mum-of-two and Mrs Wright’s youngest daughter, told the jury her husband was a “kind, considerate man” whom she had never known to lose his temper.

Mrs Hill told Robert Smith QC, defending, she saw Mrs Wright working at her breakfast bar with four sheets of A4 paper in front of her, an old razor and possibly some correction fluid a week before she was killed.

She said her mother – who was wearing grey gloves – didn’t want her to know what she was doing, but when she asked why she had a blade she replied she “wouldn’t let the VAT man know how much she earned”.

When Mr Smith asked her if she would tell a lie in relation to her mother’s death, Mrs Hill replied: “Never.