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Fleckney murder trial: Man 'raped and smothered 72-year-old woman' Man 'raped and smothered 72-year-old woman after taking cocaine'
(35 minutes later)
A man raped and murdered a 72-year-old woman by smothering her with a pillow, a court has heard. A man raped and murdered a 72-year-old woman by smothering her with a pillow after taking cocaine on a night out, a court has heard.
Craig Keogh, 26, is also accused of stealing jewellery and cash from Jane Hings' home and using it to buy a carvery and rounds of drinks. Craig Keogh, 26, was described as being aggressive by two pub workers, who told jurors he had offered to sell them the drug.
Birmingham Crown Court heard he attacked Ms Hings at her bungalow in Fleckney, Leicestershire, after a night out when he had been taking cocaine. Mr Keogh knew Jane Hings, who lived in the Leicestershire village of Fleckney, because he had walked her dog.
Mr Keogh, of no fixed address, denies all of the charges. He denies her murder, burglary and two counts of raping her.
Live updates from the East Midlands Mary Prior, prosecuting, said Mr Keogh went to Ms Hings' bungalow in the early hours of 24 September and she was found dead by two carers later that morning.
Prosecutor Mary Prior said Mr Keogh went to Ms Hings' home in the early hours of 24 September and she was later found dead by two carers. In a list of facts agreed by both the prosecution and defence, she described how Ms Hings' body was found in the bedroom of her bungalow.
Mr Keogh's DNA was found on her body and a tongue bar found at the scene, the jury was told. "They saw that Jane's head appeared to be between the pillows and that she was naked under the quilt," said Mrs Prior.
The court heard the night before he had been verbally aggressive and told people he was on cocaine. "She was plainly not breathing."
The court heard after Ms Hings's death, Mr Keogh bought a new tongue bar, having told a friend he had swallowed his piercing. The carers called an ambulance and attempted to resuscitate her.
Ms Prior told the court Mr Keogh asked the friend to sell some jewellery on his behalf, which he did for £105. When a paramedic arrived he noted Ms Hings was cold to the touch and rigor mortis had already set in.
This jewellery was later identified as belonging to Ms Hings by her friends. The jury was told that Mr Keogh had been on a night out in Oadby on the evening of 23 September.
Jurors were told Mr Keogh paid for a carvery meal at a pub for them both and a round of drinks for friends. Two members of staff from the Oadby Owl pub told jurors that Mr Keogh seemed to be under the influence of drugs and he had offered to sell cocaine to them.
He said he had found £200 in a bag in Leicester city centre, Ms Prior said. Kitchen manager Christopher Murphy said he warned Mr Keogh that it was their right to inform police if anyone on the premises had drugs.
The prosecution claim he took this money from Ms Hings' handbag, which he allegedly stole after killing her. "I hoped he might leave the premises and not cause any more aggravation to anyone," said Mr Murphy.
"Throughout the day the defendant was described as being happy and laughing," said Ms Prior. But instead Mr Keogh responded in "an aggressive manner towards the pair of us", he said.
Giving evidence, Christopher Murphy, kitchen manager at the Oadby Owl pub, said Mr Keogh had offered to sell him cocaine on 23 September. "I believe he said 'I'll swing man's jaw', which I took to mean as punching," said Mr Murphy.
Mr Murphy said he warned Mr Keogh that it was their right to inform police if anyone on the premises had drugs.
He told the court they warned him again that they would call police, but Mr Keogh responded by saying: "I'm from Fleckney - I've seen a man get shanked."He told the court they warned him again that they would call police, but Mr Keogh responded by saying: "I'm from Fleckney - I've seen a man get shanked."
Mr Murphy said he understood "shank" to mean "stab".Mr Murphy said he understood "shank" to mean "stab".
"I believe his words were 'I have a piece' which I took as a weapon," Mr Murphy added."I believe his words were 'I have a piece' which I took as a weapon," Mr Murphy added.
Mr Keogh is charged with Ms Hings' murder, two counts of rape and one count of burglary. Aaron Watson, general manager at the pub, described Mr Keogh as being "lairy" and said he was "going up to people, arms out, getting up to people's faces".
In further facts agreed by the prosecution and defence, the jury was told that Mr Keogh's DNA was found on swabs taken from Ms Hings' body and on a tongue piercing bar recovered from her body during a forensic examination.
Mr Keogh bought a new tongue bar after Miss Hings' death, having told a friend he had swallowed his old one.
Mrs Prior told the court Mr Keogh asked the friend to sell some jewellery on his behalf, which he did for £105.
This jewellery was later identified as belonging to Ms Hings by her friends.
Jurors were told Mr Keogh paid for a carvery meal at a pub for him and his friend later that day and a round of drinks for other friends, explaining that he had found £200 in a bag in Leicester city centre.
The prosecution claim he took this money from Ms Hings' handbag, which he allegedly stole after killing her.
"Throughout the day the defendant was described [by his friend] as being happy and laughing," said Ms Prior.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
To discuss an East Midlands story idea, contact caroline.lowbridge@bbc.co.uk.To discuss an East Midlands story idea, contact caroline.lowbridge@bbc.co.uk.