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Celine Dookhran murder accused 'obsessed' with victim | Celine Dookhran murder accused 'obsessed' with victim |
(35 minutes later) | |
A builder kidnapped, raped and cut the throats of two women before putting one of their bodies in a deep freezer, a court has heard. | A builder kidnapped, raped and cut the throats of two women before putting one of their bodies in a deep freezer, a court has heard. |
Mujahid Arshid, 33, is charged with the rape and murder of 20-year-old Celine Dookhran. | |
She was found on 19 July last year in an empty house in Kingston, south London. | She was found on 19 July last year in an empty house in Kingston, south London. |
He is also accused of the rape and attempted murder of a woman in her twenties who cannot be identified. | He is also accused of the rape and attempted murder of a woman in her twenties who cannot be identified. |
Mr Arshid and co-defendant Vincent Tappu are jointly charged with the kidnap of Ms Dookhran and the second woman, conspiracy to falsely imprison both women, and possessing a firearm with intent, namely a Taser. | Mr Arshid and co-defendant Vincent Tappu are jointly charged with the kidnap of Ms Dookhran and the second woman, conspiracy to falsely imprison both women, and possessing a firearm with intent, namely a Taser. |
They deny the charges. | They deny the charges. |
'Simply horrific' | 'Simply horrific' |
Crispin Aylett QC, opening the case, told jurors the evidence was "simply horrific" and "you will have to steel yourselves for what is to come." | Crispin Aylett QC, opening the case, told jurors the evidence was "simply horrific" and "you will have to steel yourselves for what is to come." |
The Old Bailey heard that Mr Arshid was obsessed with his niece Ms Dookhran, who worked in a bank. | The Old Bailey heard that Mr Arshid was obsessed with his niece Ms Dookhran, who worked in a bank. |
He had spent weeks planning to abduct and kill both women in a plot that was as "bizarre as it is terrible," Mr Aylett said. | He had spent weeks planning to abduct and kill both women in a plot that was as "bizarre as it is terrible," Mr Aylett said. |
"To that end he considered either putting them in acid or else concealing them in a deep freezer." | |
The court heard there had been unhappiness in Ms Dookhran's family about a relationship she was in and that she had been staying at a property occupied by Mr Arshid after leaving home. | The court heard there had been unhappiness in Ms Dookhran's family about a relationship she was in and that she had been staying at a property occupied by Mr Arshid after leaving home. |
The evening before the murder there had been a family meeting attended by Mr Arshid during which pressure was placed on Ms Dookhran and her boyfriend to end their association, jurors heard. | The evening before the murder there had been a family meeting attended by Mr Arshid during which pressure was placed on Ms Dookhran and her boyfriend to end their association, jurors heard. |
'Balaclava-clad' | 'Balaclava-clad' |
The next morning - 19 July - Mr Arshid took advantage of the "uncertainty surrounding Celine's position" in order to kidnap her, the jury was told. | The next morning - 19 July - Mr Arshid took advantage of the "uncertainty surrounding Celine's position" in order to kidnap her, the jury was told. |
It is alleged that the balaclava-clad defendants, wielding a Taser, kidnapped the women after stuffing socks in their mouths and wrapping them in dust sheets. | It is alleged that the balaclava-clad defendants, wielding a Taser, kidnapped the women after stuffing socks in their mouths and wrapping them in dust sheets. |
The women were put in the boot of a vehicle and driven to an empty six-bedroom house to which Mr Arshid - in his capacity as a builder - had access, the court heard. | The women were put in the boot of a vehicle and driven to an empty six-bedroom house to which Mr Arshid - in his capacity as a builder - had access, the court heard. |
Mr Tappu, 28, of Spencer Road, Acton, west London, was recruited by Mr Arshid to help abduct the pair and his alleged involvement ended during the journey to Kingston. | |
Jurors were told that Mr Arshid raped both women at the property before cutting Ms Dookhran's throat and putting her body in a deep freezer which he had installed two days earlier. | Jurors were told that Mr Arshid raped both women at the property before cutting Ms Dookhran's throat and putting her body in a deep freezer which he had installed two days earlier. |
He also cut the second woman's throat, but she managed to escape death and raise the alarm by persuading him they could be together, the court heard. | He also cut the second woman's throat, but she managed to escape death and raise the alarm by persuading him they could be together, the court heard. |
The defendant abandoned his car at a nearby train station and was later arrested in a hotel in Folkstone, Kent. | The defendant abandoned his car at a nearby train station and was later arrested in a hotel in Folkstone, Kent. |
Mr Arshid, of no fixed address, is further charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration against the second female between 2008 and 2010. | Mr Arshid, of no fixed address, is further charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration against the second female between 2008 and 2010. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |