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Parts of Becky Godden's body may have been removed, court hears Parts of Becky Godden's body may have been removed, court hears
(about 1 hour later)
The buried remains of a woman allegedly murdered by a taxi driver may have been revisited and partially removed, a court has heard.The buried remains of a woman allegedly murdered by a taxi driver may have been revisited and partially removed, a court has heard.
Christopher Halliwell, 52, is alleged to have strangled the sex worker Becky Godden, 20, and buried her in a remote field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, in 2003. Christopher Halliwell, 52, is alleged to have strangled Becky Godden, 20, and buried her in a remote field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, in 2003.
He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years after admitting stabbing and strangling the office worker Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in 2011. He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years after admitting stabbing and strangling Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in 2011.
Bristol crown court has been told Halliwell initially confessed to strangling Godden and led police to the “exact spot” of her remains. Bristol crown court has been told that Halliwell initially confessed to strangling Godden and led police to the “exact spot” of her remains.
Halliwell, formerly of Swindon, Wiltshire, has since pleaded not guilty to murder and is representing himself at his trial.Halliwell, formerly of Swindon, Wiltshire, has since pleaded not guilty to murder and is representing himself at his trial.
The jury heard Godden’s skeletal remains were missing bones including her skull and arms when they were excavated by police in 2011. The jury heard that Godden’s skeletal remains were missing bones including her skull and arms when they were excavated by police in 2011.
John Hunter, a forensic archaeologist, said the grave had been dug between 35cm and 40cm from the surface of the soil.John Hunter, a forensic archaeologist, said the grave had been dug between 35cm and 40cm from the surface of the soil.
He said: “I identified four possibilities to explain the absence of the upper arms and head. There were no trauma marks to suggest that the head and arms had been removed before burial.He said: “I identified four possibilities to explain the absence of the upper arms and head. There were no trauma marks to suggest that the head and arms had been removed before burial.
“In terms of scavenging by animals, it is unusual that the degree of scavenging should be selective to just the head and arms.“In terms of scavenging by animals, it is unusual that the degree of scavenging should be selective to just the head and arms.
“The third possibility was that the head and arms had been removed by ploughing. I would have expected to find missing components within the immediate vicinity given the way the field had been ploughed. There was no evidence of that.“The third possibility was that the head and arms had been removed by ploughing. I would have expected to find missing components within the immediate vicinity given the way the field had been ploughed. There was no evidence of that.
“Finally, that the body was revisited and the head and arms removed.”“Finally, that the body was revisited and the head and arms removed.”
In a statement read to the court, the consultant pathologist Nicholas Marquez-Grant said that between 50% and 75% of Godden’s skeleton was recovered. In a statement read to the court, Nicholas Marquez-Grant, a consultant pathologist, said that between 50% and 75% of Godden’s skeleton had been recovered.
The jury has been told that Halliwell took Det Supt Steve Fulcher to the field in Eastleach after he was arrested over the disappearance of O’Callaghan. The jury has been told that Halliwell took DS Steve Fulcher to the field in Eastleach after Halliwell was arrested over the disappearance of O’Callaghan.
Giving evidence on Thursday, Fulcher claimed Halliwell had told him he had last visited the field three years before. Giving evidence on Thursday, Fulcher claimed Halliwell told him he had last visited the field three years before.
Describing the alleged conversation, Fulcher said: “I asked him for clarifying details of who he had buried at that location. He told me he had picked up a prostitute in Broad Street or Manchester Road in Swindon.Describing the alleged conversation, Fulcher said: “I asked him for clarifying details of who he had buried at that location. He told me he had picked up a prostitute in Broad Street or Manchester Road in Swindon.
“He told me he had had sex with her and had killed her by strangling her. He said he had left the body in bushes by the wall by the edge of the field. He had returned the following night and spent the night digging a 5ft [1.5-metre] deep grave and burying the body. He told me that he had last visited the site about three years ago.”“He told me he had had sex with her and had killed her by strangling her. He said he had left the body in bushes by the wall by the edge of the field. He had returned the following night and spent the night digging a 5ft [1.5-metre] deep grave and burying the body. He told me that he had last visited the site about three years ago.”
But in angry courtroom exchanges Halliwell claimed he had never been in the field until he accompanied Fulcher there, and called the officer a “corrupt bastard”. In angry courtroom exchanges, Halliwell claimed he had never been in the field until he accompanied Fulcher there, and called the officer a “corrupt bastard”.
The trial continues.The trial continues.