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Man accused of murder told barmaid: 'I'll get you home safe', court told | Man accused of murder told barmaid: 'I'll get you home safe', court told |
(35 minutes later) | |
A bookkeeper accused of killing a barmaid was heard telling her outside a nightclub “I’ll get you home safe” before she was raped and murdered, a court has heard. | |
Edward Tenniswood, 52, allegedly spotted India Chipchase, 20, in a “fairly pickled state” outside NB’s cocktail bar in Northampton in the early hours of Saturday 30 January. | |
“Others nearby thought from the way he spoke to her [that] he knew her,” said Christopher Donnellan, opening the crown’s case at Birmingham crown court. “He was overheard by others to say ‘not to worry’ and he’d get her home safe. He didn’t.” | |
On day one of the trial, the jury of six men and six women was told that Chipchase’s death was “no dreadful accident” and that Tenniswood “raped and throttled” her at his home. | |
Donnellan said a doorman concerned for Chipchase’s welfare had earlier put her into a taxi, but in her drunk and confused state she got back out. | |
At about 1.15am Tenniswood “led, steered or escorted” her to a cab that took the pair to his house, the prosecutor said. There Tenniswood sexually assaulted Chipchase, it was alleged. | |
Donnellan said Chipcase appeared to have put up a struggle, because Tenniswood’s blood was found under one of her fingernails. | |
When Tenniswood was arrested at a nearby hotel at 6.40pm on the Sunday, he had a scratch to his neck and marks on his arms and legs. | |
Jurors were told that Chipchase had suffered blunt-force trauma to her head and face, and had a graze on her ear that had bled through to a sheet under the mattress on which she was discovered. | |
It was not clear how long Tenniswood stayed in the house after she died, the prosecutor said, but he checked in to the Ibis hotel in Mare Fair at around 9.30pm on the Saturday. | |
Donnellan said: “He stayed there many hours but there’s no sign of him on Sunday. But he was, at 6.40pm, in the lounge area some three hours after India’s body was discovered, and he was arrested.” | Donnellan said: “He stayed there many hours but there’s no sign of him on Sunday. But he was, at 6.40pm, in the lounge area some three hours after India’s body was discovered, and he was arrested.” |
He told the court there was evidence of Tenniswood having cleared up after Chipchase’s death. | |
Donnellan said: “He re-clothed her, covered her in a sheet and left her. Her death was no dreadful accident, because obviously if it had been [then] the defendant would have called an ambulance or started CPR, or asked for help – of which there was no sign. | |
“He removed her belongings, placing them around the house – they were inconspicuous.” | |
Jurors were told that Tenniswood had “other women’s clothes and shoes” dotted throughout his rented home, where he lived alone. | |
Donnellan added: “He was obviously aware of what he was doing and put on clear plastic vinyl gloves. They were found in a bag of rubbish – India’s blood on the outside of the gloves and his DNA on the inside. | Donnellan added: “He was obviously aware of what he was doing and put on clear plastic vinyl gloves. They were found in a bag of rubbish – India’s blood on the outside of the gloves and his DNA on the inside. |
“It is very likely his motive was sexual and when she resisted him he was determined to have sex and he grabbed her around the throat and squeezed. He held her until she was unable to resist any more.” | “It is very likely his motive was sexual and when she resisted him he was determined to have sex and he grabbed her around the throat and squeezed. He held her until she was unable to resist any more.” |
Tenniswood denies the charges and the trial continues. | Tenniswood denies the charges and the trial continues. |
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