11:11
Trial resumes
Mark Brown arrives in court wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and a dark tie. His hair is slicked back and he appears clean shaven.
The judge and jury are also in court and proceedings have now begun.
11:14
Darren Ripley to give evidence
Darren Ripley is the first person called to give evidence today. He confirms he first met Brown around the year 2000 through a friend in the car trade.
He tells the court when asked by Duncan Atkinson KC of the prosecution that he would see Mr Brown "every so often" and describes the defendant as "A friend and an acquaintance, not a close friend, but a friend.”
11:19
Little Bridge Farm
Mr Ripley tells the jury he was aware of the Little Bridge Farm that Mr Brown rented and had been aware of it for many years before Mr Brown had started renting it. When asked by Mr Atkinson KC if he had been to Little Bridge Farm to see the defendant and what the purpose of his visit was, Mr Ripley said: “sometimes on a pleasure basis, we’d take the children up there.”
He also tells the court he knew about Mr Brown’s partner, Lisa, but did not know about any other women in his life.
11:35 KEY EVENT
November 17 2021
Mr Atkinson KC confirms that, having helped the defendant move a car on November 17, Mr Ripley was arrested during investigations. Mr Ripley says that he was working on a car when Mr Brown rang and asked for help moving a car at around 5pm.
He confirms that he had not heard of Alexandra Morgan before.
Mr Atkinson KC confirms that there was a two-minute call from Mr Brown to Mr Ripley at 5.11pm. Mr Ripley confirms this was the call in which the defendant asked for help in moving a car, and says he was reluctant to help as the date marked the anniversary of the passing of his wife, which was also her birthday.
The court hears that Mr Brown was keen for the car to be moved on that day, but at this stage Mr Ripley was unaware of where the car was being moved to or what type of car it was. He confirms that Mr Brown had helped him move cars "several times" in the past, including that month.
Mr Brown picked up Mr Ripley from his home that evening in a white van and drove to Little Bridge Farm.
11:41
Arriving at Little Bridge Farm
That evening, CCTV footage captures the van arriving at Little Bridge Farm at 6.55pm on November 17. When asked about what the plan was, Mr Ripley said: “I was going to drive the van and Mark was going to drive the Mini. When we arrived it was in the barn that was locked.”
He confirms that the plan was to drop off the Mini on Harrow Lane in Hastings.
Describing the car to the court, Mr Ripley said: "It was a white Mini and had two distinctive dents on the roof. I think it had a private registration on it, a short number plate."
11:53
Leaving Little Bridge Farm
Mr Atkinson KC states that the van, followed by the Mini, was captured leaving Little Bridge Farm at 7.04pm on November 17. Mr Brown drove the Mini whilst Mr Ripley drove the van, and they ended up at Holmhurst Lane, just off Harrow Lane.
Mr Ripley confirms Mr Brown dropped the Mini off on Holmhurst Lane before jumping into the van with him. He confirmed that the keys remained with the defendant.
“We drove back to my home address," he said. "He dropped me off and I carried on with my evening.
"Mark was always normal, jovial, he was in a normal mood.”
12:05
'He just said he had to move it'
During the following week, Mr Ripley says that he saw some press reports that a woman had gone missing and that she had been driving a Mini. Mr Ripley told the jury he revisited Holmhurst Lane where the Mini had been left.
He said the car was still there but stated "I think the number plate had changed".
When questioned by police, Mr Ripley confirms he told them where the Mini was. Mr Ripley was asked if he had any idea whose car that had been, and said: "None whatsoever, no".
When asked if the defendant explained why he was moving the car, Mr Ripley said: "He just said he had to move it and that was that."
12:06
Darren Ripley leaves witness stand
Darren Ripley has now left the witness stand.
The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware
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