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Suffolk women 'had drug problems' Murder accused 'possibly helped'
(21 minutes later)
Five women found dead in Suffolk had drug problems and worked as prostitutes to fund their addiction, a court heard. A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk may not have been working alone, a jury has been told.
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, told Ipswich Crown Court: "In each of their cases this decision was ultimately to prove fatal." Steve Wright, 49, denies killing Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls.
He said the first woman to go missing was the youngest victim, Tania Nicol. The court was told that the five women went missing in Ipswich over six and a half weeks to early December 2006.
Steve Wright, 49, denies killing Miss Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls. The women had drug problems and worked as prostitutes to fund their addiction, the court heard.
The jury, made up of nine men and three women, heard the last possible sighting of Miss Nicol was on 30 October. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said: "In each of their cases this decision was ultimately to prove fatal.
"In the 10 days that elapsed from 2 December to 12 2006, their bodies began to turn up."
Body trapped
Miss Nicol's naked body was found in a stretch of water known as Belstead Brook on 8 December.
The body was trapped in debris in the water close to a bridge.
Mr Wright said: "Consequently, everything pointed to her having met her death at the hand or the hands of another or others."
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Miss Nicol's body but a definite cause of death was not found, the court heard.
Mr Wright told the jury, made up of nine men and three women, that the pathologist felt it was more likely that she had been dead when she entered the water.
The jury heard the last possible sighting of Miss Nicol was on 30 October.
Mr Wright said: "She was in an area of Ipswich often frequented by prostitutes and their clients."Mr Wright said: "She was in an area of Ipswich often frequented by prostitutes and their clients."
The court was told that the five women went missing in Ipswich over six and a half weeks from late October to early December 2006.
Mr Wright told the jury: "In the 10 days that elapsed from 2 December to 12 2006, their bodies began to turn up.
The women were all found dead on the outskirts of IpswichThe women were all found dead on the outskirts of Ipswich
"The first two bodies were found in an area to the south west of the town in the vicinity of Hintlesham and Copdock." He said the next prostitute to disappear was Miss Adams, last seen on the evening of 14 November 2006 or early the next day.
Miss Nicol's naked body was found in a stretch of water known as Belstead Brook on 8 December, the court heard. Her naked body was the first to be found, on 2 December, in the same brook further upstream towards Hintlesham.
Jurors were shown maps detailing the red light area, Ipswich Town's Portman Road soccer stadium and Wright's home in London Road, Ipswich. Mr Wright said a post-mortem examination on Miss Adams' body was also inconclusive.
Mr Wright, of Ipswich, was charged with the murder of all five women on 21 December 2006. He added: "But, we say, a pattern was beginning to emerge."
Steve Wright, of Ipswich, was charged with the murder of all five women on 21 December 2006.
He is being defended by Timothy Langdale QC during the trial before the judge, Mr Justice Gross.He is being defended by Timothy Langdale QC during the trial before the judge, Mr Justice Gross.
A new jury is hearing the case after the first jury was discharged when one member reported health problems.