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Jayden Parkinson murder trial: Ben Blakeley 'spoke of grave burial' | Jayden Parkinson murder trial: Ben Blakeley 'spoke of grave burial' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The man accused of murdering Jayden Parkinson and burying her in his uncle's grave said nine years ago that was how he would "get rid of a body", a court has heard. | The man accused of murdering Jayden Parkinson and burying her in his uncle's grave said nine years ago that was how he would "get rid of a body", a court has heard. |
Jurors heard Ben Blakeley made the comment when he was 13-years-old and living at a children's home. | |
He is accused of murdering his pregnant ex Jayden, 17, and burying her in a Didcot graveyard last December. | He is accused of murdering his pregnant ex Jayden, 17, and burying her in a Didcot graveyard last December. |
Mr Blakeley, 22, from Reading, admits manslaughter but denies murder. | Mr Blakeley, 22, from Reading, admits manslaughter but denies murder. |
Annabelle Stoodly, who was a care worker at Thornbury House in Kidlington, told Oxford Crown Court he was there because of problems at home. | Annabelle Stoodly, who was a care worker at Thornbury House in Kidlington, told Oxford Crown Court he was there because of problems at home. |
Ms Stoodly said she overheard a conversation between Mr Blakeley and another resident. | Ms Stoodly said she overheard a conversation between Mr Blakeley and another resident. |
'No-one would look' | 'No-one would look' |
"Ben said if he ever had to get rid of a body, he would put it in a family member's grave," she said. | "Ben said if he ever had to get rid of a body, he would put it in a family member's grave," she said. |
"I challenged what he was saying and asked why. | "I challenged what he was saying and asked why. |
"He explained it was because no-one would look in a grave, because it would be very difficult to tell body to body - things would get muddled up like DNA. | "He explained it was because no-one would look in a grave, because it would be very difficult to tell body to body - things would get muddled up like DNA. |
"The DNA evidence would be mixed up." | "The DNA evidence would be mixed up." |
The court heard that when she saw TV news reports about Jayden Parkinson she instantly recognised Ben Blakeley's name. | The court heard that when she saw TV news reports about Jayden Parkinson she instantly recognised Ben Blakeley's name. |
When police found Jayden's body at All Saints Church in Didcot, Ms Stoodly phoned Thames Valley Police and told them about the conversation, jurors heard. | When police found Jayden's body at All Saints Church in Didcot, Ms Stoodly phoned Thames Valley Police and told them about the conversation, jurors heard. |
'Scared for myself' | |
The court also heard from Kirsty Penford who told jurors she had been dating Ben Blakeley for three or four months when she discovered she was pregnant. | |
Prosecutor Richard Latham QC asked "what was his response?" [to the news of the pregnancy]. "That it wasn't his baby and that I had been cheating on him," she replied. | |
She told the jury: "I felt quite upset, obviously very hurt, very scared for myself." | |
She told the court about a string of violent incidents, including one when he had accused Ms Penford of lying about where she had been while they were stood at the top of some stairs. | |
"I told him I was going to fall, he said 'I know' - and I fell down the stairs- I was seven months pregnant. | |
"I was very bruised, but I wasn't worried about me, I was worried about my daughter. | |
"I opened the door and ran," she said. | |
A 17-year-old boy from Didcot, who cannot be named, is also on trial. | A 17-year-old boy from Didcot, who cannot be named, is also on trial. |
He has admitted perverting the course of justice but denies preventing the lawful burial of Jayden. | He has admitted perverting the course of justice but denies preventing the lawful burial of Jayden. |
The teenager's body was found on 18 December in a disturbed grave at the cemetery two weeks after she was reported missing. | The teenager's body was found on 18 December in a disturbed grave at the cemetery two weeks after she was reported missing. |
A post-mortem examination revealed she died from pressure to the neck. | A post-mortem examination revealed she died from pressure to the neck. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |