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Tia Sharp death: Accused Stuart Hazell 'had sexual attraction' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The man accused of murdering Tia Sharp killed her after sexually assaulting her, the Old Bailey has heard. | |
Stuart Hazell, the former boyfriend of Tia's grandmother, allegedly had a sexual attraction to the 12-year-old, a jury was told. | |
Her body was found in the loft of Ms Sharp's house in New Addington, south London, a week after she went missing. | Her body was found in the loft of Ms Sharp's house in New Addington, south London, a week after she went missing. |
Mr Hazell, 37, of New Addington, south London, denies murder. The trial is expected to last nearly three weeks. | Mr Hazell, 37, of New Addington, south London, denies murder. The trial is expected to last nearly three weeks. |
Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said: "The prosecution case is that Stuart Hazell had a sexual attraction for Tia Sharp, that there was some form of sexual assault, something of that kind, and that was the reason he killed her." | |
'Distressing' evidence | |
Mr Edis told jurors they will have to decide whether Mr Hazell is guilty of murder, or whether Tia died in an accident. | |
He warned them they will find some of the evidence in the case "distressing". | |
The prosecutor went on: "What we know is that after she died he put her in the loft. | |
"That's not what you would normally do with someone who has suffered an accident. | |
"Generally speaking, if someone has an accident and you are concerned about their health you call an ambulance." | |
Tia Sharp's mother told Mr Hazell, "I hope you rot" as she left court in tears for a third time in less than an hour. | |
Mr Hazell denies killing the schoolgirl between 2 August and 10 August, when her body was found. |