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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/27/becky-watts-trial-nathan-matthews-breaks-down-denies-murder
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| Becky Watts trial: Nathan Matthews breaks down as he denies murder | Becky Watts trial: Nathan Matthews breaks down as he denies murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nathan Matthews broke down in tears as he told a jury he did not intend to murder his stepsister, Becky Watts. | Nathan Matthews broke down in tears as he told a jury he did not intend to murder his stepsister, Becky Watts. |
| The 28-year-old started crying and slumped into the witness box holding his head in his hands as he started giving evidence during his murder trial at Bristol crown court. | The 28-year-old started crying and slumped into the witness box holding his head in his hands as he started giving evidence during his murder trial at Bristol crown court. |
| Matthews and his girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, are accused of killing the 16-year-old in a sexually motivated kidnap plot on 19 February. | Matthews and his girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, are accused of killing the 16-year-old in a sexually motivated kidnap plot on 19 February. |
| The court has heard the pair targeted 5ft 1in Becky due to their shared unnatural interest in petite teenage girls. | The court has heard the pair targeted 5ft 1in Becky due to their shared unnatural interest in petite teenage girls. |
| They allegedly murdered Becky in her bedroom at her family home in Bristol, before driving her body to their home in Barton Hill in the city. | They allegedly murdered Becky in her bedroom at her family home in Bristol, before driving her body to their home in Barton Hill in the city. |
| Prosecutors say the couple dismembered Becky in the bath of the terraced property using a circular saw, before packing her body parts in bags, clingfilm and tape. | Prosecutors say the couple dismembered Becky in the bath of the terraced property using a circular saw, before packing her body parts in bags, clingfilm and tape. |
| These were discovered in suitcases, bags and a blue box in a garden shed 80 metres from the couple’s home in the early hours of 3 March. | These were discovered in suitcases, bags and a blue box in a garden shed 80 metres from the couple’s home in the early hours of 3 March. |
| Adam Vaitilingam QC, defending, asked his client: “Did you intend to kill Becky?” | Adam Vaitilingam QC, defending, asked his client: “Did you intend to kill Becky?” |
| Fighting back tears, Matthews replied: “No.” | Fighting back tears, Matthews replied: “No.” |
| Vaitilingam asked: “Did you intend to cause her really serious injury?” | Vaitilingam asked: “Did you intend to cause her really serious injury?” |
| Matthews answered: “No.” | Matthews answered: “No.” |
| He then burst into tears, telling the court: “No, no ... No I didn’t.” | He then burst into tears, telling the court: “No, no ... No I didn’t.” |
| Matthews then slumped into the witness box holding his head in his hands and loudly crying. He paused to recompose himself and took some sips of water before continuing to give evidence. | Matthews then slumped into the witness box holding his head in his hands and loudly crying. He paused to recompose himself and took some sips of water before continuing to give evidence. |
| Matthews entered the witness box on day 14 of the trial to give the jury his account of events in February and March this year. | |
| Vaitilingam asked him: “Excluding Shauna, did you have a plan to kidnap Becky Watts?” Matthews replied: “Yes.” | |
| Vaitilingam asked: “Was Shauna part of that plan?” He replied: “No.” | |
| His lawyer then asked: “You admit that you had a plan to kidnap Becky but you deny that you conspired with Shauna to do so?” Matthews told the court: “Yes.” | |
| Vaitilingam said: “You and Shauna Hoare are charged with the murder of Becky Watts. Putting Shauna out of the picture, the jury have been told that you pleaded not guilty to murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Is that right?” Matthews replied: “Yes.” | |
| Referring to the perverting the course of justice charge, Vaitilingam asked Matthews: “You admit that you hid, then dismembered, then hid again Becky’s body?” Matthews said: “Yes.” | |
| The defence lawyer asked: “Do you admit that you lied to the police when they were investigating her disappearance.” Matthews told the jury: “Yes.” | |
| Vaitilingam asked his client whether he had prevented the lawful burial of a corpse and he replied: “By my actions, yes. I didn’t... yeah...” | |
| Matthews denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap. He admits killing Becky, perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon. | |
| Hoare denies murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon. The residents of the nearby property where Becky’s remains were found – Karl Demetrius, 30, and his partner Jaydene Parsons, 23 – admit assisting an offender. | |
| Donovan Demetrius – Karl’s twin brother – of Bristol, and James Ireland, 23, of Avonmouth – a work colleague of Karl’s – deny the charge. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |