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Tia Sharp death: Stuart Hazell accused of killing her after sexual assault Tia Sharp death: Stuart Hazell accused of killing her after sexual assault
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The man accused of murdering Tia Sharp killed her after sexually assaulting her, a court has heard.The man accused of murdering Tia Sharp killed her after sexually assaulting her, a court has heard.
Stuart Hazell, the former boyfriend of Tia's grandmother, allegedly had a sexual attraction for the 12-year-old, jurors at the Old Bailey were told on Tuesday.Stuart Hazell, the former boyfriend of Tia's grandmother, allegedly had a sexual attraction for the 12-year-old, jurors at the Old Bailey were told on Tuesday.
Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said that a sex toy with Tia's blood on it was found at her grandmother's house after she died.Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said that a sex toy with Tia's blood on it was found at her grandmother's house after she died.
NEW HERE Hazell also took a photograph of the naked 12-year-old dead on her bed, prosecutors alleged. Edis showed jurors at the Old Bailey the image, allegedly of Tia, although the girl's face cannot be seen, on her bed at her grandmother's house in south London.
Hazell also took a photograph of the naked 12-year-old dead on her bed, prosecutors alleged today. Blood could be seen on the bedclothes in the picture, said to have been taken in the early hours of 3 August, the night Tia died.
Edis showed jurors at the Old Bailey the image that is allegedly of Tia, although the girl's face cannot be seen, on her bed at her grandmother's house in south London.
Blood could be seen on the bed clothes in the picture, said to have been taken in the early hours of August 3 when Tia died.
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Edis 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."Edis 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."
Edis told the jury that they will have to decide whether Hazell is guilty of murder, or whether Tia died in an accident. Edis told the jury it would have to decide whether Hazell was guilty of murder, or whether Tia died in an accident.
Tia died on the night of August 2-3, but her body was only found on 10 August last year, the court heard, in the loft at her grandmother's house. Tia died on the night of 2-3 August , but her body was found on 10 August, the court heard, in the loft at her grandmother's house.
Edis said: "The issue in the end for you to decide will be this. Has the evidence made you sure that Tia Sharp was murdered or do you think it may have been an accident?Edis said: "The issue in the end for you to decide will be this. Has the evidence made you sure that Tia Sharp was murdered or do you think it may have been an accident?
"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.""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."
He warned jurors that they would find some of the evidence in the case "distressing". He warned jurors they would find some of the evidence in the case distressing.
Hazell, 37, of New Addington, south London, is charged with killing the schoolgirl between 2 and 10 August last year. He denies murder. Hazell, 37, of New Addington, south London, is charged with killing the schoolgirl between 2-10 August last year. He denies murder.
Her body was found in the loft of her grandmother's house in New Addington a week after she went missing.Her body was found in the loft of her grandmother's house in New Addington a week after she went missing.
Edis told the jury of seven men and five women that the loft had been inspected by police twice before Tia's body was finally found.Edis told the jury of seven men and five women that the loft had been inspected by police twice before Tia's body was finally found.
"They only found it, I am afraid, because it had started to smell. "They only found it, I am afraid, because it had started to smell. "It was quite well hidden. It had been moved up and then across within the loft space."
"It was quite well hidden. It had been moved up and then across within the loft space." He said Tia's body had been "carefully wrapped" in a sheet first and then bin bags, then sealed with sticky tape. "As you can imagine, that's not a particularly easy thing to do with a dead human being, but that's what had been done."
He said Tia's body had been "carefully wrapped" in a sheet first and then bin bags, then sealed with sticky tape.
"As you can imagine, that's not a particularly easy thing to do with a dead human being, but that's what had been done."
The court heard that two memory cards were found in the house, one in the kitchen and one hidden on top of a doorframe.The court heard that two memory cards were found in the house, one in the kitchen and one hidden on top of a doorframe.
They contained "extensive pornography", the jury was told, including two "grade one" images of sexual abuse of under-age girls, and two "extreme images" featuring bestiality.They contained "extensive pornography", the jury was told, including two "grade one" images of sexual abuse of under-age girls, and two "extreme images" featuring bestiality.
There were also 11 still images of Tia sleeping, and three video clips of her sleeping in her bedroom.There were also 11 still images of Tia sleeping, and three video clips of her sleeping in her bedroom.
There were also "professional" pornographic images of young girls performing sex acts, the court heard.There were also "professional" pornographic images of young girls performing sex acts, the court heard.
Edis said internet searches on Hazell's phone showed searches of a site that was popular with paedophiles, with searches including the phrases: "naked little girlies", "young, young girlies", and "schoolgirl nudes".Edis said internet searches on Hazell's phone showed searches of a site that was popular with paedophiles, with searches including the phrases: "naked little girlies", "young, young girlies", and "schoolgirl nudes".
He said Hazell had also visited a pornographic website on 6 August – while Tia's body was in the loft.He said Hazell had also visited a pornographic website on 6 August – while Tia's body was in the loft.
Family members were visibly upset by the descriptions, several crying in the public gallery.Family members were visibly upset by the descriptions, several crying in the public gallery.
NEW FROM HERE Edis told the jury Tia had her own BlackBerry mobile phone and had used Blackberry messaging, or BBM, to speak to a friend until 12.42am on 3 August. "After that, the prosecution say, she did not use her mobile phone ever again," he said.
Edis told the jury Tia had her own Blackberry mobile phone and had used Blackberry messaging, or BBM, to speak to a friend until 12.42am on August 3.
"After that, the prosecution say, she did not use her mobile phone ever again," he said.
He said it seemed sensible to suggest she had died after that time, and told the court it is said that the photo of her allegedly dead on the bed was taken at the earliest at 3am – more likely at about 6am that day.He said it seemed sensible to suggest she had died after that time, and told the court it is said that the photo of her allegedly dead on the bed was taken at the earliest at 3am – more likely at about 6am that day.
A pathologist who examined the body, as well as the photograph, said marks on Tia's body suggested that she had been moved after she had died, and "posed" into the position seen in the photograph, Edis said. A pathologist who examined the body, as well as the photograph, said marks on Tia's body suggested she had been moved after she had died, and "posed" into the position seen in the photograph, Edis said.
Hazell's semen was found on the bed clothes, and trace amounts of sperm on nightwear, the court heard. Hazell's semen was found on the bedclothes, and trace amounts of sperm on nightwear, the court heard.
Edis told the court: "First there's a dead girl in the loft who died in that house that night. Edis told the court: "First, there's a dead girl in the loft who died in that house that night.
"Second, there's a photograph of an apparently dead girl taken in that house that night at three or six in the morning or thereabouts and taken, it would appear if she was dead, by somebody who wanted to photograph her in that state for the purposes of sexual excitement."Second, there's a photograph of an apparently dead girl taken in that house that night at three or six in the morning or thereabouts and taken, it would appear if she was dead, by somebody who wanted to photograph her in that state for the purposes of sexual excitement.
"She was, it would appear, injured at the time of the photograph, hence the blood."She was, it would appear, injured at the time of the photograph, hence the blood.
"Remember, that her grandmother was not by any means always at home when she would stay at that house because of her job," Edis added. "Remember, that her grandmother was not by any means always at home when she would stay at that house because of her job," Edis added. "The prosecution say that this is clearly no accident."
"The prosecution say that this is clearly no accident."
The court heard that the press, police and local residents "laid siege" to Tia's grandmother's house in the days after she was reported missing.The court heard that the press, police and local residents "laid siege" to Tia's grandmother's house in the days after she was reported missing.
Jurors were shown an interview that Hazell gave to ITN on August 9, in which Edis alleged he was "playing the role of bereaved grandparent who wanted nothing more than the child to be found and to come home". Jurors were shown an interview that Hazell gave to ITN on 9 August in which Edis alleged he was "playing the role of bereaved grandparent who wanted nothing more than the child to be found and to come home".
In the broadcast Hazell insisted Tia was like his own child, described her as "a golden angel" and said he did not know what had happened to her.In the broadcast Hazell insisted Tia was like his own child, described her as "a golden angel" and said he did not know what had happened to her.
Later Hazell told a prison officer that he was not "a nonce", and that Tia had fallen down the stairs while they were playing and broken her neck, the court heard.Later Hazell told a prison officer that he was not "a nonce", and that Tia had fallen down the stairs while they were playing and broken her neck, the court heard.
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