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Delivery man 'disposed of bodies' | Delivery man 'disposed of bodies' |
(1 day later) | |
A delivery driver killed two women and disposed of their bodies as if they had "disappeared off the face of the earth", the Old Bailey has heard. | A delivery driver killed two women and disposed of their bodies as if they had "disappeared off the face of the earth", the Old Bailey has heard. |
Derek Brown, 47, of Albion Street, Rotherhithe, south-east London, is accused of killing prostitute Bonnie Barrett and DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo. | Derek Brown, 47, of Albion Street, Rotherhithe, south-east London, is accused of killing prostitute Bonnie Barrett and DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo. |
Miss Xiao, 29, went to Mr Brown's flat last August while Miss Barrett, 24, visited his home in September. | Miss Xiao, 29, went to Mr Brown's flat last August while Miss Barrett, 24, visited his home in September. |
Mr Brown denies murdering the women and disposing of their bodies. | Mr Brown denies murdering the women and disposing of their bodies. |
Both were soft targets for the killer who thought that neither woman would be missed or whose disappearance would trigger a major police investigation Brian Altman, prosecuting | |
Miss Xiao, an illegal immigrant from China, who sold fake DVDs at Whitechapel market in east London, was last seen at Whitechapel Tube station on 29 August. | |
Miss Barrett, a drug addict, was also last seen in the same area on 18 September. | Miss Barrett, a drug addict, was also last seen in the same area on 18 September. |
Both women, who were unconnected, have not been seen since, the court heard. | Both women, who were unconnected, have not been seen since, the court heard. |
For the prosecution Brian Altman QC said: "Two young women disappeared from the East End of London and off the face of the earth." | For the prosecution Brian Altman QC said: "Two young women disappeared from the East End of London and off the face of the earth." |
Mr Altman accused Mr Brown of choosing the women as they were "soft targets" and said evidence linked him "inexorably" to the killings. | |
"He lured each woman to his flat where, following a murderous attack on each carried out on two occasions, he disposed of their bodies. | "He lured each woman to his flat where, following a murderous attack on each carried out on two occasions, he disposed of their bodies. |
"Both lived on the edge of society and both were soft targets for the killer who thought that neither woman would be missed or whose disappearance would trigger a major police investigation," added Mr Altman. | "Both lived on the edge of society and both were soft targets for the killer who thought that neither woman would be missed or whose disappearance would trigger a major police investigation," added Mr Altman. |
'Heavy drinker' | |
Mr Brown, who has three children from a previous relationship, was a loner and a heavy drinker who sought the company of prostitutes, the jury was told. | |
He worked night shifts for a company distributing newspapers and magazines. | |
Miss Xiao, a mother of two boys, came to the UK with her husband in 2006 and went missing when her husband was in jail for selling counterfeit DVDs. | |
The court heard they had left their children with relatives in China and sent money home. | |
Miss Barrett, who had a six-year-old son, worked as a prostitute to pay for her addiction but had "motherly, maternal instincts". | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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