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| Becky Watts murder trial: accused 'might have used TA skills to hide crime' | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The man accused of murdering the Bristol teenager Becky Watts may have used skills picked up when he was a part-time soldier to try to conceal his crime, a court has heard. | The man accused of murdering the Bristol teenager Becky Watts may have used skills picked up when he was a part-time soldier to try to conceal his crime, a court has heard. |
| While in the Territorial Army, Nathan Matthews would have learned how to clean an area until it was “spotless” and been taught about decontamination, Bristol crown court was told. | While in the Territorial Army, Nathan Matthews would have learned how to clean an area until it was “spotless” and been taught about decontamination, Bristol crown court was told. |
| Matthews, 28, and his partner, Shauna Hoare, 21, are accused of murdering Becky at her home in Bristol, dismembering her body and hiding the remains in a neighbour’s garden shed. | Matthews, 28, and his partner, Shauna Hoare, 21, are accused of murdering Becky at her home in Bristol, dismembering her body and hiding the remains in a neighbour’s garden shed. |
| The court has been told that Matthews has claimed he alone dismembered his step-sister Becky’s body in the bathroom of the house he shared with Hoare. The jury heard that no trace of blood was found in the bathroom. | The court has been told that Matthews has claimed he alone dismembered his step-sister Becky’s body in the bathroom of the house he shared with Hoare. The jury heard that no trace of blood was found in the bathroom. |
| Roy Kempton, who was a sergeant major in the TA unit Matthews was a member of, said soldiers were required to keep their areas pristine. “When I say spotless, I mean spotless,” he said. | Roy Kempton, who was a sergeant major in the TA unit Matthews was a member of, said soldiers were required to keep their areas pristine. “When I say spotless, I mean spotless,” he said. |
| Kempton said Matthews was a “typical squaddie” and “crafty like the rest”. He added: “Like many if there was something he could get away with he got away with it.” | Kempton said Matthews was a “typical squaddie” and “crafty like the rest”. He added: “Like many if there was something he could get away with he got away with it.” |
| The court has also been told that part of Becky’s remains were covered in Fuller’s earth – an absorbent material. Darren Thomas, a former member of the Grenadier Guards and TA cadet instructor, who also taught Matthews, said: “Nathan would have been taught that this powder [Fuller’s earth] could be used in the event of a chemical or noxious liquid spraying on them.” Thomas said Matthews was an excellent cadet who got on with everyone. | The court has also been told that part of Becky’s remains were covered in Fuller’s earth – an absorbent material. Darren Thomas, a former member of the Grenadier Guards and TA cadet instructor, who also taught Matthews, said: “Nathan would have been taught that this powder [Fuller’s earth] could be used in the event of a chemical or noxious liquid spraying on them.” Thomas said Matthews was an excellent cadet who got on with everyone. |
| However, Danielle Rogers, who also worked with Matthews in the TA , described him as “stroppy” and said he could become “cross about small things”. She continued: “He had a bit of an anger problem at times. He would sometimes snap in frustration and throw things in temper sometimes.” | However, Danielle Rogers, who also worked with Matthews in the TA , described him as “stroppy” and said he could become “cross about small things”. She continued: “He had a bit of an anger problem at times. He would sometimes snap in frustration and throw things in temper sometimes.” |
| According to the prosecution, the murder was sexually-motivated and Matthews and Hoare had a fascination with the idea of kidnap and an unnatural interest in young girls. | According to the prosecution, the murder was sexually-motivated and Matthews and Hoare had a fascination with the idea of kidnap and an unnatural interest in young girls. |
| When he was interviewed by police after being arrested, Matthews described himself to officers as an “emotionally unstable, psychologically disturbed, metrosexual Neanderthal”. | When he was interviewed by police after being arrested, Matthews described himself to officers as an “emotionally unstable, psychologically disturbed, metrosexual Neanderthal”. |
| He said: “I don’t know how to explain it. It is just like a caveman. I obviously have a hairy beard, but that’s not anything to do with it. | He said: “I don’t know how to explain it. It is just like a caveman. I obviously have a hairy beard, but that’s not anything to do with it. |
| “I would say when I am aggressive I am similar to a caveman. It is basically like a caveman, obviously like mentally undeveloped, not like a posh highly educated, anything like that. I react to my emotions.” | “I would say when I am aggressive I am similar to a caveman. It is basically like a caveman, obviously like mentally undeveloped, not like a posh highly educated, anything like that. I react to my emotions.” |
| He added that he was a “naturally stressy person”. At this point he was not admitting involvement in Becky’s disappearance. He described one occasion when he “snapped” at Becky but said it was not recent. “I have never really had an argument with Becky,” he said. | He added that he was a “naturally stressy person”. At this point he was not admitting involvement in Becky’s disappearance. He described one occasion when he “snapped” at Becky but said it was not recent. “I have never really had an argument with Becky,” he said. |
| Matthews admits the manslaughter of Becky, cutting up her body and possessing two stun guns. He denies conspiracy to kidnap and murder. Hoare has pleaded not guilty to any involvement in the plot to kidnap, the murder or the aftermath. | Matthews admits the manslaughter of Becky, cutting up her body and possessing two stun guns. He denies conspiracy to kidnap and murder. Hoare has pleaded not guilty to any involvement in the plot to kidnap, the murder or the aftermath. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |