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Jury hears dead woman's evidence | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Evidence from one of five women found murdered in Ipswich has been heard at the trial of the man accused of killing her and four others. | Evidence from one of five women found murdered in Ipswich has been heard at the trial of the man accused of killing her and four others. |
Jurors heard a statement which Paula Clennell, 24, gave to police after the disappearance of Tania Nicol, 19 - a month before her own body was found. | Jurors heard a statement which Paula Clennell, 24, gave to police after the disappearance of Tania Nicol, 19 - a month before her own body was found. |
She last saw Miss Nicol on 31 October 2006, Ipswich Crown Court heard. | |
The court earlier heard how 49-year-old Steve Wright, who denies murder, was unsteady on his feet when arrested. | |
Miss Clennell, Miss Nicol, Anneli Alderton, 24, Gemma Adams, 25, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls all disappeared while working as prostitutes on the streets of Ipswich. | Miss Clennell, Miss Nicol, Anneli Alderton, 24, Gemma Adams, 25, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls all disappeared while working as prostitutes on the streets of Ipswich. |
'Nice eyes' | |
Their naked bodies were found over a period of 10 days in December 2006, dumped in isolated locations around the town. | Their naked bodies were found over a period of 10 days in December 2006, dumped in isolated locations around the town. |
A police inquiry was launched following the disappearance of Miss Nicol at the end of October 2006. | A police inquiry was launched following the disappearance of Miss Nicol at the end of October 2006. |
On 13 November 2006, Miss Clennell spoke to investigating officers and told them how she regularly stood near Miss Nicol as they waited to pick up clients in Ipswich's red light district. | On 13 November 2006, Miss Clennell spoke to investigating officers and told them how she regularly stood near Miss Nicol as they waited to pick up clients in Ipswich's red light district. |
Accused 'in red light area' | Accused 'in red light area' |
The jury heard how Miss Clennell had stated Miss Nicol had got into a silver estate car, possibly an Audi or a Mercedes, at about 0100 GMT on 31 October. | |
A lawyer read out the statement in which Miss Clennell said: "Tania was standing in her usual place. I assumed the passenger window was wound down as Tania got into the car. She looked over to me." | A lawyer read out the statement in which Miss Clennell said: "Tania was standing in her usual place. I assumed the passenger window was wound down as Tania got into the car. She looked over to me." |
She added that the car then drove away, driven by a white man in his mid-forties with "nice eyes". | She added that the car then drove away, driven by a white man in his mid-forties with "nice eyes". |
"I didn't see Tania any more. That is the last time I saw her," her statement read. | "I didn't see Tania any more. That is the last time I saw her," her statement read. |
Four days later, Miss Clennell gave a second statement to police in which she confirmed that it had definitely been Miss Nicol she had seen getting into the silver car on 31 October. | |
The court heard how she had described Miss Nicol as "not the kind of person who would build up a debt from drugs" but regularly took heroin and crack cocaine. | |
Collected from home | Collected from home |
She told police she only knew Ms Nicol through work and occasionally shared a "cigarette and a chat". | She told police she only knew Ms Nicol through work and occasionally shared a "cigarette and a chat". |
"She didn't speak to me about anyone bothering her. I have known her for a year," she added. | "She didn't speak to me about anyone bothering her. I have known her for a year," she added. |
In her statement Miss Clennell said Miss Nicol was regularly picked up near her home by a man called Tom, whose surname she did not know, who drove her to work and collected her afterwards. | |
She added she thought Miss Nicol gave Tom money for petrol. | She added she thought Miss Nicol gave Tom money for petrol. |
Miss Clennell disappeared on 10 December. Her body was found near woodland at Levington on 12 December. | |
Post-mortem examinations suggested that all five women were strangled or asphyxiated, the prosecution has said. | Post-mortem examinations suggested that all five women were strangled or asphyxiated, the prosecution has said. |
'Eyes closed' | |
Simon Spence, prosecuting, had earlier told the court how Steve Wright, who is from Ipswich, was "unsteady on his feet" when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders. | |
Police officers had gone to his home on 19 December 2006 at about 0445 GMT where they found him with a light on in his front room and peering through the curtains as police approached. | |
"He was cautioned and made no reply," Mr Spence said. | |
"Thereafter, he became unsteady on his feet and said 'may I please sit down or I'll fall'. | |
"He was taken to Stowmarket Police Station. En route it was noted he was sweating and often had his eyes closed." | |
He was examined by a doctor on his arrival before being questioned. | |
"He answered 'no comment' to all questions asked of him," Mr Spence added. | |
Jurors were shown items of Mr Wright's clothing taken from his home and car including a reflective jacket, a checked lumberjacket and a pair of work gloves. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |