MsMiniSleuth
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What's he going to say about not immediately phoning 999 - the most obvious response in such a situation?
Deceased/Not Found UK - Leah Louise Ware (still missing) and Alexandra Morgan, May/Nov 2021 *Guilty*
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MsMiniSleuth
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11:51 KEY EVENT
“I presumed she was dead," Brown tells the court.
Asked if he called for help at any point, Brown said “no.” He adds that he did not call the authorities, did not see if anyone was outside, and did not try and see if anyone was at the Bartlett’s scrap yard to help.
Brown adds that he “threw up” after the incident and, when he intended to call the authorities, saw messages on his phone from his partner and eldest son.
Brown tells the jury:
Brown tells the jury:
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'It looked like a murder scene'
Brown adds that he held up a mirror to Alex Morgan’s nose and mouth to see if she was breathing but got no response.“I presumed she was dead," Brown tells the court.
Asked if he called for help at any point, Brown said “no.” He adds that he did not call the authorities, did not see if anyone was outside, and did not try and see if anyone was at the Bartlett’s scrap yard to help.
Brown adds that he “threw up” after the incident and, when he intended to call the authorities, saw messages on his phone from his partner and eldest son.
Brown tells the jury:
Asked why he did not call the authorities, Brown said:
Brown says he made the “stupid” decision to “cover it all up". At this stage he says he did not know how he would do this other than by cleaning up the blood. The defendant tells the jury that he made the decision to cover it up a few minutes after the incident.
Brown tells the jury:
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
MsMiniSleuth
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Astonishing.
Honeybirdette
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Insulting that he thinks anyone in that court room would buy this utter c r a p
I feel for Alexandra’s children and family having to hear / watch him spout these lies. It’s worse than I expected.
I feel for Alexandra’s children and family having to hear / watch him spout these lies. It’s worse than I expected.
MsMiniSleuth
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12:09
Mr Henderson asks the defendant about calls made to Lisa Clarke (9.41am, 2 seconds, phone off) and his eldest son (11.10am for 2 mins 19 secs). He says the call to his son was regarding a question his son had asked him about work.
Mr Henderson asks the defendant about calls made to Lisa Clarke (9.41am, 2 seconds, phone off) and his eldest son (11.10am for 2 mins 19 secs). He says the call to his son was regarding a question his son had asked him about work.
At 12.25pm, Brown had a 1 minute and 4 second call with his partner. He told the jury today:
By the time Lisa Clarke had arrived, Brown says: “Most of it I had cleaned up, using blue rag, bleach, spray bleach, some wheel acid."
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'I started trying to clear up the blood'
The defendant adds:Mr Henderson asks the defendant about calls made to Lisa Clarke (9.41am, 2 seconds, phone off) and his eldest son (11.10am for 2 mins 19 secs). He says the call to his son was regarding a question his son had asked him about work.
Mr Henderson asks the defendant about calls made to Lisa Clarke (9.41am, 2 seconds, phone off) and his eldest son (11.10am for 2 mins 19 secs). He says the call to his son was regarding a question his son had asked him about work.
At 12.25pm, Brown had a 1 minute and 4 second call with his partner. He told the jury today:
Regarding Alex Morgan’s Mini, Brown says he moved it into the open barn where his friend Tony had been.
By the time Lisa Clarke had arrived, Brown says: “Most of it I had cleaned up, using blue rag, bleach, spray bleach, some wheel acid."
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
MsMiniSleuth
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12:31 KEY EVENT
“You had a dead body in your container, why are you bothering to message Mr Moochie about a horsebox,” Mr Henderson asks.
“What else are you supposed to do? There was a load of s*** going on, life also goes on,” Brown replies.
At 1.55pm, CCTV and ANPR cameras pick up Brown leaving the farm and heading westbound. Brown says that his partner, Lisa, had provided two, one litre, thin bottles of bleach.
Asked how he intended to get rid of the body, Brown said: “I was going to cremate it.”
Just after 9.50pm that evening, the tracker on Brown’s van says he left his home address. Brown says he was heading to the farm and that he was “disposing of the body.”
Asked how he intended to cremate it, Brown says: “Cremate the body in the oil drum.”
Mr Henderson asks Brown about his trip to the petrol station where he purchased diesel that night.
Brown says the diesel had been planned to be used when he purchased a can before adding: "I knew what I had to do but I really didn’t want to have to do it."
12:46
Brown adds that he opened up the workshop doors and turned the lights on to help disguise any of the light from the fire that anyone heading past the workshop may see.
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'Cremate the body in the oil drum'
Court is now back under way.“You had a dead body in your container, why are you bothering to message Mr Moochie about a horsebox,” Mr Henderson asks.
“What else are you supposed to do? There was a load of s*** going on, life also goes on,” Brown replies.
At 1.55pm, CCTV and ANPR cameras pick up Brown leaving the farm and heading westbound. Brown says that his partner, Lisa, had provided two, one litre, thin bottles of bleach.
Asked how he intended to get rid of the body, Brown said: “I was going to cremate it.”
Just after 9.50pm that evening, the tracker on Brown’s van says he left his home address. Brown says he was heading to the farm and that he was “disposing of the body.”
Asked how he intended to cremate it, Brown says: “Cremate the body in the oil drum.”
Mr Henderson asks Brown about his trip to the petrol station where he purchased diesel that night.
Brown says the diesel had been planned to be used when he purchased a can before adding: "I knew what I had to do but I really didn’t want to have to do it."
12:46
Jury hearing details of how Brown disposed of Alex Morgan's body
Mark Brown is taking the jury through details of how he disposed of Alex Morgan's body using a barrel and engine oil, plus petrol and diesel.Brown adds that he opened up the workshop doors and turned the lights on to help disguise any of the light from the fire that anyone heading past the workshop may see.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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MsMiniSleuth
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12:51
He tells the jury he was heading to her home address as Alex had left her handbag on her dressing table with some cocaine, which Brown says he went to collect: “It’s bad enough saying she’s an escort and a sex worker without drugs being found in her house as well. It was to my benefit removing the bag, and her benefit to remove the couple of wraps of cocaine."
The defendant adds that, upon arriving at her house, he went to her bedroom, grabbed the items from her dressing table and then left.
By 1.43am on November 15, the Mini had now returned to the farm. Brown adds that it took around 25 minutes to get to her house and a little longer to get back after hitting a badger while driving home. Before driving to Miss Morgan’s house, Brown says he removed some items such as phone chargers and air fresheners.
13:01
The evening of November 15, Brown collected the prescription of Leah Ware and headed to the farm around 6.10pm. He tells the court he planned to put the items in the horsebox for Leah and to “relight the fire.”
Talking about November 16, after Brown gets back from work in Sevenoaks: “I relit it again. You couldn’t see a lot from when I first lit the fire. I just kept throwing wood on top of the fire and relighting it.
When asked by the judge what he couldn’t see, Brown replies: “Anything, remains.”
Around November 17 or 18, the defendant tells the jury he put the oil drum and angle iron in his van and says he had seen a scrap metal tipper truck near Flimwell and he planned to throw the barrel in the back of it. It was busy when he drove past so he only threw the angle iron in it.
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Brown's trip to Alex Morgan's home
At 12.35am on November 15, Alex Morgan’s Mini left Little Bridge Farm and Brown confirmed he was driving it.He tells the jury he was heading to her home address as Alex had left her handbag on her dressing table with some cocaine, which Brown says he went to collect: “It’s bad enough saying she’s an escort and a sex worker without drugs being found in her house as well. It was to my benefit removing the bag, and her benefit to remove the couple of wraps of cocaine."
The defendant adds that, upon arriving at her house, he went to her bedroom, grabbed the items from her dressing table and then left.
By 1.43am on November 15, the Mini had now returned to the farm. Brown adds that it took around 25 minutes to get to her house and a little longer to get back after hitting a badger while driving home. Before driving to Miss Morgan’s house, Brown says he removed some items such as phone chargers and air fresheners.
13:01
The days after November 14, 2021
Shortly before 7am on November 15, Brown drove to work in Sevenoaks.The evening of November 15, Brown collected the prescription of Leah Ware and headed to the farm around 6.10pm. He tells the court he planned to put the items in the horsebox for Leah and to “relight the fire.”
Talking about November 16, after Brown gets back from work in Sevenoaks: “I relit it again. You couldn’t see a lot from when I first lit the fire. I just kept throwing wood on top of the fire and relighting it.
When asked by the judge what he couldn’t see, Brown replies: “Anything, remains.”
Around November 17 or 18, the defendant tells the jury he put the oil drum and angle iron in his van and says he had seen a scrap metal tipper truck near Flimwell and he planned to throw the barrel in the back of it. It was busy when he drove past so he only threw the angle iron in it.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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Honeybirdette
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He went into her house??? My god.
I wonder if she told him she’d left a note there that incriminated him, and he went there to look for it and destroy it? He might not have believed her at the time, but he was worried enough to go double check.
His cocaine story doesn’t make any sense to me, why risk going there to protect her reputation? Like what??? Is that what’s really on your mind whilst she’s lying dead in your workshop?
To me it’s much more likely that he’d attacked her at some point after arriving and she has told him if anything happened to her the police would come straight to him as she’d left clues at her house.
He obviously didn’t put 2 and 2 together about the subtle note about the rollerblades.
Even the fact she left that note in such a subtle way - It’s like she had a gut feeling. It’s utterly heartbreaking.
I wonder if she told him she’d left a note there that incriminated him, and he went there to look for it and destroy it? He might not have believed her at the time, but he was worried enough to go double check.
His cocaine story doesn’t make any sense to me, why risk going there to protect her reputation? Like what??? Is that what’s really on your mind whilst she’s lying dead in your workshop?
To me it’s much more likely that he’d attacked her at some point after arriving and she has told him if anything happened to her the police would come straight to him as she’d left clues at her house.
He obviously didn’t put 2 and 2 together about the subtle note about the rollerblades.
Even the fact she left that note in such a subtle way - It’s like she had a gut feeling. It’s utterly heartbreaking.
MsMiniSleuth
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That's a good point about the note.
Also, what woman goes out without her handbag? No way would she have left it.
MsMiniSleuth
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14:07
Court about to get back under way
Proceedings are about to shortly begin again in court.
MsMiniSleuth
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14:31
The defendant now responds to questions about Darren Ripley. Brown had borrowed trade plates from Mr Ripley in the days after the alleged murder and Mr Ripley had helped move Alex Morgan’s Mini from Little Bridge Farm to Holmhurst Lane, where Brown says he has left cars in the past.
“I burnt the number plates, stupidly, and I needed somewhere to leave the car,” Brown says. The number plates were burned the day the defendant went to Alex Morgan’s house, Brown tells the jury.
Asked how long he planned to leave the car at Holmhurst Lane, Brown says: “I didn’t think that far forward but I've left things up there for weeks before.”
14:32
The defendant gave a voluntary statement to police that day but tells the jury today that he didn’t tell the truth in all of it. He says he did not tell them about Alex falling over and hitting her head.
In his statement, Brown told officers that he and Alex Morgan had sex on November 14 before he threw the condom out of his car window in a baby wipe. He tells the jury today that they did not, in fact, have sex on that occasion.
14:53
Brown adds:
14:54 KEY EVENT
15:02
The member of staff had made notes of the conversation which has previously been read to the jury.
On January 5, 2022, Brown is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Leah Ware. Brown says the legal advice was again to reply to any police questions with ‘no comment'.
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The days after November 14
On November 17, the defendant went to work, telling the jury “I pulled up at work, I’ve put the barrel in the skip at work.” Brown adds that this was not the original plan.The defendant now responds to questions about Darren Ripley. Brown had borrowed trade plates from Mr Ripley in the days after the alleged murder and Mr Ripley had helped move Alex Morgan’s Mini from Little Bridge Farm to Holmhurst Lane, where Brown says he has left cars in the past.
“I burnt the number plates, stupidly, and I needed somewhere to leave the car,” Brown says. The number plates were burned the day the defendant went to Alex Morgan’s house, Brown tells the jury.
Asked how long he planned to leave the car at Holmhurst Lane, Brown says: “I didn’t think that far forward but I've left things up there for weeks before.”
14:32
November 23, 2021
On November 23, Brown arrived at Little Bridge Farm and police officers were there. Brown tells the jury: “They were already there, two unmarked vehicles, I thought they were dogging.”The defendant gave a voluntary statement to police that day but tells the jury today that he didn’t tell the truth in all of it. He says he did not tell them about Alex falling over and hitting her head.
In his statement, Brown told officers that he and Alex Morgan had sex on November 14 before he threw the condom out of his car window in a baby wipe. He tells the jury today that they did not, in fact, have sex on that occasion.
14:53
November 24, 2021
Mr Henderson asks Brown about his conversation with his boss Alan Downs on November 24.Brown adds:
When Mr Downs gave evidence, he told the jury that Brown had used the term “double murder” in his conversation with Brown on November 24. Brown denies ever saying this.
14:54 KEY EVENT
November 25 - the day Brown was arrested
On November 25, Brown was arrested in connection with Alexandra Morgan’s murder. In nine interviews, Brown gave no comment, telling the jury that he was told to take this approach by the solicitor.15:02
Time after his murder arrest
Brown is asked about a conversation he had with a member of staff at HMP Lewes on November 30, 2021, shortly after his arrest.The member of staff had made notes of the conversation which has previously been read to the jury.
On January 5, 2022, Brown is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Leah Ware. Brown says the legal advice was again to reply to any police questions with ‘no comment'.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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bradshmj10
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I agree with your take on this. He rang his partner within an hour or so of meeting Alex which suggests he killed her soon after she arrived. He finally managed to speak with his partner after 12 to get her to bring the bleach.
MsMiniSleuth
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15:20 KEY EVENT
www.sussexlive.co.uk
BREAKING | Cross-examination begins
Ian Henderson KC has now finished his questioning of Mark Brown. Duncan Atkinson KC is now beginning his cross-examination of the defendant on behalf of the prosecution.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
MsMiniSleuth
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15:22
Mr Atkinson KC suggests that all of the main points he made in his police statement were lies.
Brown replies to this by saying:
15:24 KEY EVENT
Mr Atkinson asks why he did not call the emergency services with Brown replying:
15:31
“You had killed her first hadn’t you,” Mr Atkinson adds.
“No,” replies Brown.
Brown tells the jury that he generally deletes all of his messages before he goes home.
“What you’re describing Mr Brown sounds like an accident,” says Mr Atkinson KC. “Nobody in their right mind would walk in there and think it’s an accident,” Brown replies.
“That’s because it wasn't, was it?," Mr Atkinson says.
15:33
15:35
“It’s not that you had sex with her before you killed her?” Mr Atkinson asks. “I didn’t kill her and I didn’t have sex with her that morning,” replies the defendant.
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Cross-examination gets under way
Duncan Atkinson KC begins cross-examining and starts by asking Brown about the unmarked police cars arriving at his farm on November 23, 2021. Brown says he had not expected to see them at that time and had made no plan for their arrival.Mr Atkinson KC suggests that all of the main points he made in his police statement were lies.
Brown replies to this by saying:
“I presumed I was going to be arrested for a murder no matter what,” Brown says.
15:24 KEY EVENT
'It looked like a murder scene and it looked like I'd be treated like a murderer'
Mr Atkinson KC responds to Brown’s claims that he had planned to call an ambulance and Crimestoppers.Mr Atkinson asks why he did not call the emergency services with Brown replying:
15:31
'You had killed her first hadn’t you?'
Duncan Atkinson KC suggests that Brown was only looking out for himself with Brown agreeing and stating that he had just disposed of a body.“You had killed her first hadn’t you,” Mr Atkinson adds.
“No,” replies Brown.
Brown tells the jury that he generally deletes all of his messages before he goes home.
“What you’re describing Mr Brown sounds like an accident,” says Mr Atkinson KC. “Nobody in their right mind would walk in there and think it’s an accident,” Brown replies.
“That’s because it wasn't, was it?," Mr Atkinson says.
15:33
'My life also ended that day didn’t it'
Mr Brown says: "She fell over and died that day, my life also ended that day didn’t it. If I could swap places with her I could. So as much as you want to grubby this up…"15:35
'I didn’t kill her and I didn’t have sex with her that morning'
Mr Atkinson asks about Brown’s police statement in which he said he had sex with Alex Morgan on the day of her death. Brown has since said this was a lie.“It’s not that you had sex with her before you killed her?” Mr Atkinson asks. “I didn’t kill her and I didn’t have sex with her that morning,” replies the defendant.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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MsMiniSleuth
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15:39 KEY EVENT
Later, Mr Atkinson says: “You knew from what you’re telling us that the police were making a mistake."
“Yes, but how could I prove it?” Brown responds.
www.sussexlive.co.uk
Brown tells prosecutor - 'Don't be f.u.c.k.i.n.g stupid'
There are gasps from the public gallery as Brown reacts to a question from Mr Atkinson KC and tells the prosecutor: "Don't be f.u.c.k.i.n.g stupid."Later, Mr Atkinson says: “You knew from what you’re telling us that the police were making a mistake."
“Yes, but how could I prove it?” Brown responds.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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MsMiniSleuth
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15:50
Mr Atkinson now asks about the relationship between the defendant and Leah Ware. Brown had suggested their relationship had ended in 2020 but he had also described their relationship as a rollercoaster until March 2021. They last hhad sex in April 2021. Brown says he would never turn his back on her.
16:03
“Did you not want to help the police to find her?” Mr Atkinson asks.
“To be honest with you, no. If she was on the run, God no,” Brown replies. “If you’re on the run, you’re on the run, you don’t want to be found by anybody, let alone the police.”
Asked why he did not tell police the last time he had seen Lady, Brown says he was again said to give no comment.
Brown says he had not lied to people when he told them that Leah was at Woodlands Centre for Acute Care. Brown thought this had been true because he believed he had taken her there.
www.sussexlive.co.uk
Questioning about Leah Ware
Mr Atkinson KC now shifts his line of questioning onto the case of Leah Ware. The prosecutor says that Brown could have brought the police search for Leah to an end had he told them where Leah picked up her medication from. Brown had continued to collect her medication until November 22.Mr Atkinson now asks about the relationship between the defendant and Leah Ware. Brown had suggested their relationship had ended in 2020 but he had also described their relationship as a rollercoaster until March 2021. They last hhad sex in April 2021. Brown says he would never turn his back on her.
16:03
More questions about Leah Ware
Mr Atkinson asks Brown why he did not tell police where Leah was after his arrest for her murder. Brown, who insists she is still alive, says he was following the legal advice and gave ‘no comment’ interviews.“Did you not want to help the police to find her?” Mr Atkinson asks.
“To be honest with you, no. If she was on the run, God no,” Brown replies. “If you’re on the run, you’re on the run, you don’t want to be found by anybody, let alone the police.”
Asked why he did not tell police the last time he had seen Lady, Brown says he was again said to give no comment.
Brown says he had not lied to people when he told them that Leah was at Woodlands Centre for Acute Care. Brown thought this had been true because he believed he had taken her there.
Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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MsMiniSleuth
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16:10
Proceedings will resume tomorrow morning.
Court has now finished for the day
Following another couple of questions from Mr Atkinson KC, court has ended for the day.Proceedings will resume tomorrow morning.
MsMiniSleuth
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Fancy using the f word to the prosecutor!
Getting him riled.
Order in court!
Getting him riled.
Order in court!
I dont think anyone believed Brown's account in court today, it was a desperate defence and the timings didn't work. What was astonishing was Brown's demeanour as if he actually believed what he was saying. I would describe as about 6 foot and muscular. He was wearing a suit which did not hide his heavily tattooed hands. His hair was black, he had a long sallow face with lines under his eyes. He works in security, buying and selling cars and working on building sites. His speech is quite unusual, I would described it as South London with a rural twang, he drops his 'H's saying for example 'orses' instead of horses. He uses double negatives saying for example " I don't never lock my car when it's in the barn'. During the trial today, he tried to be over helpful to the judge (who seemed to act deliberated dumb on a few occasions, I am sure the judge was putting it on to draw out answers, on contentious points the judge really wanted it explained a couple of times over). Brown is intelligent, a ducker and diver and a controlling narcissist. But he is an impressive witness in the box even if the story is telling is hogwash.
Honeybirdette
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Are u able to see the jury?