See was only able to testify briefly late Friday afternoon before court was adjourned that he was on duty on November 6 and consequently took part in the murder investigation.

Nancy Kissel, 40, who is out on bail, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her husband, former Merrill Lynch banker Robert Kissel.

Earlier Friday, the inspector's colleague, chief inspector Yuen Shing-kit, said that when he went to interview Nancy Kissell on November 6 about her assault claims and the missing persons report, she described to him how the alleged assault took place in the master bedroom. When she was asked about a storeroom, she said she didn't know of one. After she was informed they had search warrants, she delivered the keys to the storeroom.

Senior defense counsel Alexander King suggested that Yuen never intended to assist her in her assault claims and was already investigating a murder and yet he failed to inform her of her right to silence.

The prosecution alleges that Nancy Kissel researched drugs required for an overdose and bought the ``date rape'' drug Rohypnol from a Wan Chai clinic in late October. She allegedly served her husband a pink milkshake laced with sedatives, which left him unconscious while she bludgeoned him to death with a heavy metal ornament on November 2, 2003.

On November 6, Nancy Kissel told the police that her drunken husband had assaulted her, kicked her in the ribs and then disappeared after she refused him sex. She also submitted a medical report on abrasions and bruises to her body.

Later that same day, David Kissel's friend and colleague David Noh submitted a missing persons report and police officers visited the Kissel residence later that night. The banker's decomposing body, packed in plastic film, sealed up with adhesive tape and rope, and wrapped in an old rug was found in storeroom 15112 in the Parkview premises in the early hours of November 7.

Last Monday, the court heard that the accused told her domestic helper a day after the alleged murder that power, money and the stress of being a top Merrill Lynch banker led her husband to snort cocaine, get drunk and assault her.

However, Conchita Pee Macaraeg said Robert Kissel was a ``thoughtful and loving (father) - never shouts and never hot-tempered at all.''

She did not think he had a drinking habit. Nancy Kissel also ``treated me like a sister'' and was a very good mother, she said. Pee Macaraeg still cares for the Kissel children in the United States.

albert.wong@singtaonewscorp.com