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Becky Godden murder accused 'confessed and led officers to body' Becky Godden murder accused 'confessed and led officers to body' Becky Godden murder accused 'confessed and led officers to body'
(35 minutes later)
A taxi driver who is serving life in prison for the brutal, sexually motivated killing of Sian O’Callaghan led police to a shallow grave in a remote field where he had buried a second murder victim about eight years earlier, a jury has been told.A taxi driver who is serving life in prison for the brutal, sexually motivated killing of Sian O’Callaghan led police to a shallow grave in a remote field where he had buried a second murder victim about eight years earlier, a jury has been told.
While Christopher Halliwell, 52, was under arrest for the murder of Swindon nightclubber O’Callaghan, he was driven by officers to the spot on the side of a road in Oxfordshire where her semi-naked body was discovered.While Christopher Halliwell, 52, was under arrest for the murder of Swindon nightclubber O’Callaghan, he was driven by officers to the spot on the side of a road in Oxfordshire where her semi-naked body was discovered.
There, he told the detective who was with him: “I’m a sick fucker,” and took him to a ploughed field where he said he had buried a sex worker he had picked up on the streets of Swindon several years before, Bristol crown court was told.There, he told the detective who was with him: “I’m a sick fucker,” and took him to a ploughed field where he said he had buried a sex worker he had picked up on the streets of Swindon several years before, Bristol crown court was told.
The naked body was disinterred and identified as that of Becky Godden, a sex worker who had last been seen in January 2003, when when she was 20, the jury heard.The naked body was disinterred and identified as that of Becky Godden, a sex worker who had last been seen in January 2003, when when she was 20, the jury heard.
Halliwell initially “confessed” to having sex with Godden before strangling and burying her, the court was told. But he now denies her murder and is on trial for it.Halliwell initially “confessed” to having sex with Godden before strangling and burying her, the court was told. But he now denies her murder and is on trial for it.
Dressed in suit and tie and surrounded by security officers, Halliwell watched from the dock as the prosecutor, Nicholas Haggan QC, said the last reliable sighting of Godden was when friends saw her getting into the back of a taxi in Swindon town centre.Dressed in suit and tie and surrounded by security officers, Halliwell watched from the dock as the prosecutor, Nicholas Haggan QC, said the last reliable sighting of Godden was when friends saw her getting into the back of a taxi in Swindon town centre.
“After that, nothing more was heard from her,” Haggan said. “She made no contact with her family; she made no contact with any of the government and other agencies and financial institutions. She quite literally disappeared.”“After that, nothing more was heard from her,” Haggan said. “She made no contact with her family; she made no contact with any of the government and other agencies and financial institutions. She quite literally disappeared.”
The jury was told Halliwell, a taxi driver, used sex workers and was a regular client of Godden’s. Haggan said it was not possible to say exactly when Godden died. But he said there was “some evidence” that she may have been abducted on 3 January.The jury was told Halliwell, a taxi driver, used sex workers and was a regular client of Godden’s. Haggan said it was not possible to say exactly when Godden died. But he said there was “some evidence” that she may have been abducted on 3 January.
In the early hours of that morning Halliwell called the RAC having run out of petrol at Inglesham, six miles from the spot where Godden was buried.In the early hours of that morning Halliwell called the RAC having run out of petrol at Inglesham, six miles from the spot where Godden was buried.
Later that day he went to see his doctor with a suspected broken finger and also had scratches across his face. He claimed he had been assaulted by a man he refused to pick up. However, Haggan claimed his work diaries revealed he had not been working that day.Later that day he went to see his doctor with a suspected broken finger and also had scratches across his face. He claimed he had been assaulted by a man he refused to pick up. However, Haggan claimed his work diaries revealed he had not been working that day.
The jury was also told Halliwell told a police doctor following his arrest for O’Callaghan’s murder: “I’ve killed two people.”The jury was also told Halliwell told a police doctor following his arrest for O’Callaghan’s murder: “I’ve killed two people.”
Haggan said the court would hear from experts who examined soil samples found on a spade and on a roll of tape found in Halliwell’s shed. He said the panel would hear about how the samples compared to the “unique” soil at the field where Godden’s remains were found.Haggan said the court would hear from experts who examined soil samples found on a spade and on a roll of tape found in Halliwell’s shed. He said the panel would hear about how the samples compared to the “unique” soil at the field where Godden’s remains were found.
The prosecutor said there were similarities between Godden and O’Callaghan. Both were slim, petite and attractive. They both vanished from Swindon town centre and were last seen leaving nightclubs. They were both disposed of in rural locations.The prosecutor said there were similarities between Godden and O’Callaghan. Both were slim, petite and attractive. They both vanished from Swindon town centre and were last seen leaving nightclubs. They were both disposed of in rural locations.
In March 2011, O’Callaghan went missing after leaving a nightclub in Swindon in the early hours of the morning. Haggan said CCTV footage showed that Halliwell had abducted her. He was arrested and taken to a spot on a B road near the white horse in Uffington, where her body was found. She had been stabbed in the head, strangled and the state of her clothing made it “perfectly clear” she was the victim of a sex attack.In March 2011, O’Callaghan went missing after leaving a nightclub in Swindon in the early hours of the morning. Haggan said CCTV footage showed that Halliwell had abducted her. He was arrested and taken to a spot on a B road near the white horse in Uffington, where her body was found. She had been stabbed in the head, strangled and the state of her clothing made it “perfectly clear” she was the victim of a sex attack.
Haggan went on to describe in detail the exchange between Halliwell and Det Supt Stephen Fulcher.Haggan went on to describe in detail the exchange between Halliwell and Det Supt Stephen Fulcher.
Halliwell told the officer: “We need to have a chat.” Fulcher gave Halliwell a cigarette and the taxi driver told him: “I’m a sick fucker. Is it too late to get help?” Fulcher replied: “It’s gone beyond that, Chris.”Halliwell told the officer: “We need to have a chat.” Fulcher gave Halliwell a cigarette and the taxi driver told him: “I’m a sick fucker. Is it too late to get help?” Fulcher replied: “It’s gone beyond that, Chris.”
Halliwell said: “Another one.” Fulcher asked: “When?” to which Halliwell replied: “2003/4 or 5” and added: “Don’t know if you want to go for another.” Fulcher asked: “Where?” and Halliwell told him: “Eastleach”, a village in Gloucestershire. He said he could take him to the “exact spot”.Halliwell said: “Another one.” Fulcher asked: “When?” to which Halliwell replied: “2003/4 or 5” and added: “Don’t know if you want to go for another.” Fulcher asked: “Where?” and Halliwell told him: “Eastleach”, a village in Gloucestershire. He said he could take him to the “exact spot”.
Halliwell told Fulcher: “What the fuck’s wrong? Normal people don’t go around killing each other.” When asked by Fulcher if there were any other victims, Halliwell replied: “Isn’t that enough?”Halliwell told Fulcher: “What the fuck’s wrong? Normal people don’t go around killing each other.” When asked by Fulcher if there were any other victims, Halliwell replied: “Isn’t that enough?”
Fulcher asked him if the circumstances were similar. Halliwell said: “Yes, she was a prostitute.” Fulcher told him that O’Callaghan had not been a sex worker. Halliwell replied to the effect that he was aware of that now.Fulcher asked him if the circumstances were similar. Halliwell said: “Yes, she was a prostitute.” Fulcher told him that O’Callaghan had not been a sex worker. Halliwell replied to the effect that he was aware of that now.
The pair went to the field in Eastleach and the defendant pointed to the spot where he said he had buried the victim, it is claimed. He said he had picked her up from the red light district in Swindon, had sex with her, then strangled her. He said he had last visited the spot where he buried her three years earlier, the jury heard.The pair went to the field in Eastleach and the defendant pointed to the spot where he said he had buried the victim, it is claimed. He said he had picked her up from the red light district in Swindon, had sex with her, then strangled her. He said he had last visited the spot where he buried her three years earlier, the jury heard.
Some of Godden’s remains were eventually found, but a number of parts were missing, including her head. Despite the alleged confession and leading of officers to the spot where Godden’s remains were found, the prosecutor said Halliwell was now denying her murder.Some of Godden’s remains were eventually found, but a number of parts were missing, including her head. Despite the alleged confession and leading of officers to the spot where Godden’s remains were found, the prosecutor said Halliwell was now denying her murder.
“Had the defendant not told the police where he had buried that girl from the streets of Swindon, you might think that Rebecca’s remains to this day would be in that field in the middle of nowhere,” Haggan said.“Had the defendant not told the police where he had buried that girl from the streets of Swindon, you might think that Rebecca’s remains to this day would be in that field in the middle of nowhere,” Haggan said.
Relatives of Godden sat in the public gallery, including her father, John Godden, and mother, Karen Edwards, who wiped away tears as details of her daughter’s life were given.Relatives of Godden sat in the public gallery, including her father, John Godden, and mother, Karen Edwards, who wiped away tears as details of her daughter’s life were given.
The court heard that Godden’s parents separated when she was about six years old. “It is right to say Becky had a troubled adolescence,” Haggan said. “She became a heavy user of class A drugs and, at some point during her early to mid teens, she began earning a living as a sex worker operating in the Manchester Road area of Swindon.The court heard that Godden’s parents separated when she was about six years old. “It is right to say Becky had a troubled adolescence,” Haggan said. “She became a heavy user of class A drugs and, at some point during her early to mid teens, she began earning a living as a sex worker operating in the Manchester Road area of Swindon.
“As is so often the case with people in her situation, her life became somewhat chaotic and contact with her parents became more sporadic.”“As is so often the case with people in her situation, her life became somewhat chaotic and contact with her parents became more sporadic.”
Despite her lifestyle, Godden kept in contact with her family, especially on Mother’s Day and her birthday on 4 April.Despite her lifestyle, Godden kept in contact with her family, especially on Mother’s Day and her birthday on 4 April.
Edwards last saw her daughter on 16 December 2002, when she collected her after an appearance at a magistrates court, the jury heard. She took her daughter to a friend’s house in Swindon.Edwards last saw her daughter on 16 December 2002, when she collected her after an appearance at a magistrates court, the jury heard. She took her daughter to a friend’s house in Swindon.
Godden was last seen a month later outside a nightclub in Swindon. A taxi pulled up and Godden approached it, returning to the car a short while later and arguing with the driver, Haggan said.Godden was last seen a month later outside a nightclub in Swindon. A taxi pulled up and Godden approached it, returning to the car a short while later and arguing with the driver, Haggan said.
“A short time later, Becky told her friends that she was leaving and she went back to the taxi,” he told the jury. “She got into the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle drove away.”“A short time later, Becky told her friends that she was leaving and she went back to the taxi,” he told the jury. “She got into the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle drove away.”
The court heard that Godden did not make contact with her family on Mother’s Day in 2003, nor on her 21st birthday in April that year.The court heard that Godden did not make contact with her family on Mother’s Day in 2003, nor on her 21st birthday in April that year.
The trial judge, retired high court judge Sir John Griffith Williams, told the jury that Halliwell would not be represented by a barrister and would instead defend himself. Williams directed the jury not to speculate on the reason why.The trial judge, retired high court judge Sir John Griffith Williams, told the jury that Halliwell would not be represented by a barrister and would instead defend himself. Williams directed the jury not to speculate on the reason why.
The trial continues.The trial continues.