Lay-by murder jury back in court

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/5406936.stm

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The jury in the trial of a couple accused of murdering a woman whose battered body was found dumped in a lay-by is to return to court.

Christopher Reed, 41, and his 31-year-old partner Kathy Williams, deny murdering Lorraine Jones, 45, of Leeswood, near Mold in Flintshire.

Each blames the other for her death at their Ellesmere Port flat in Cheshire.

Ms Jones' semi-naked body was found near Bala, Gwynedd, in 2005. The trial continues at Mold Crown Court.

The body of the divorced mother-of-one was found with multiple injuries dumped on rough ground, near the A4212 Bala to Trawsfynydd road.

The prosecution said she had been the victim of a "sustained and brutal attack" by both defendants, but each has blamed the other.

On Friday, Ms Williams told the jury she was asleep in bed after drinking heavily when Ms Jones was attacked.

Lorraine Jones was beaten, stabbed and strangled, the court has heard

She said she had gone to bed to avoid violence because Mr Reed had became abusive towards her, and claimed she left him and Ms Jones drinking in the living room.

She told the jury that when she woke up, Mr Reed asked her to get Ms Jones. After checking through the flat, she found her in the yard outside.

"She was just lying there, naked, covered in blood. I was shocked and alarmed," she said.

Asked why she had gone along with disposing of the body, Ms Williams replied: "I didn't feel like I had any choice, because I didn't fancy joining her."

Previously, Mr Reed, a former soldier, told the court that he was asleep in bed when Ms Williams attacked Ms Jones.

He told the jury that the next morning Ms Williams found Lorraine Jones in the back yard, naked and badly injured.

Mr Reed claimed they both brought her back up to the flat and at that stage she was still alive.

He said that before she died, Ms Jones said to Ms Williams in a very weak voice: "Kathy, why have you done this to me?"

The trial jury is due to resume its deliberations after being sent home for the night.