The murdered wife of former Bermuda prosecutor Lloyd Rayney intended to ask him to move out of the family home, according to reports in Australia.

Corryn Rayney, a Supreme Court Registrar, was last seen on the night of August 7 at a "bootscooting" dance class. Her body was discovered in a grave in a park in her hometown of Perth, Western Australia, on August 16.

Police last week named Mr. Rayney, 45, as their prime suspect in the murder investigation. Now a prominent Perth lawyer, he lived in Bermuda with his wife from 2003 to 2004 when he worked as a Senior Crown Counsel. According to Australia's Sunday Times, a close friend has revealed that Mrs. Rayney, 44, intended to confront her estranged husband when she returned home from the dance class on August 7, and request he find an alternative place to live.

Despite being separated, the couple had continued to live at the family home they shared with their daughters aged ten and 13.

"That night she said she was going home to ask him to move out,'' said the man, who according to the Sunday Times did not want to be named publicly.

"She's obviously felt strong enough to do it that night... but I think she made that decision some time ago.''

The friend was reportedly one of the last people to see Mrs. Rayney alive. He said she had spoken of divorce proceedings with her husband and that they had both engaged lawyers. The information of Mrs. Rayney's last conversations has been relayed to police, said the Sunday Times.

In a statement issued by Mr. Rayney's lawyers on Friday, he said he had "no involvement in the tragic death of his wife".

He refuted police claims that he had denied officers access to his home and refused permission for his daughters to be interviewed by detectives.

This week, a forensic search of the family home continued. In a separate development, Mr. Rayney appeared before Perth Magistrates Court yesterday charged with using a listening device to record, monitor or listen to a private conversation.

Police will allege that a tap was put on the telephone Mrs. Rayney used at the family home.

According to a report in the Australian newspaper, Mr. Rayney appeared briefly before the court, and was ordered to reappear on October 23. His bail was extended.