The family of the British woman allegedly killed by her husband in Ghana has hit back at claims that she died of an accidental heroin overdose.

Charmain Speirs Adusah, a photographer originally from Arbroath, was married to Rev Eric Isaiah Adusah, a Ghanaian who is the leader of Global Light Revival Ministries Church, based in Tottenham but with branches in Edinburgh and Manchester. He and Charmain had visited Ghana for a Christian conference. Adusah is believed to have checked out of the hotel on the day his wife died, telling staff that his wife was staying on but was ill and did not wish to be disturbed.

According to local news reports, a post-mortem showed that she died of 'opiate heroin overdose'. Adusah's defence lawyer claimed in court that 41-year-old Charmain was a habitual heroin user and that her whole family were addicted to the drug.

However, her brother Paul told the Mail on Sunday that his sister had never touched drugs and it was "an outrageous lie" to say his family were all addicts.

He added: "The defence lawyer seems to be suggesting she had been a heroin addict for years but that's absolute rubbish."

He admitted that he had battled heroin addiction, but said that it had been his sister who ensured that he had received help from a Christian-run rehabilitation centre and that he had been drug-free for 10 years.

He also told the Mail that she would not have taken any such substances of her own accord, adding: "My sister was always against drugs."

Adusah has been charged with murder and is in prison on remand. The case has been adjourned until later this month.