Deceased/Not Found UK - Leah Louise Ware (still missing) and Alexandra Morgan, May/Nov 2021 *Guilty*

[MsMiniSleuth]

15:35

Mark Brown buys diesel from nearby petrol station​

At 1.55pm on November 14, CCTV footage shows Brown's gold Jaguar leaving Little Bridge Farm, bumping the gate open in the process. He then gets out to close the gate manually.
Automatic number plate recognition activations show the Jaguar moving away from the farm.
At 6.10pm, Alex Morgan is sent a picture of one of her sons. Ms Morgan did not respond to the message and it was not delivered to her phone.
Later that day, at 10.02pm, Brown is seen driving to a petrol station on John Macadam Way, St Leonards, in his work van. He picks up the diesel pump and instead of putting it into his fuel hole, he takes the pump around the back of the van. He goes inside, pays, and then returns to his van. Mr Tateson tells the court that approximately five litres of diesel were purchased on this occasion.
At around 10.15pm, Brown's van is seen returning to Little Bridge Farm.
At 0.35am on November 15, CCTV footage shows Alex Morgan’s white Mini driving down the lane at Little Bridge Farm, bumping the gate open as it does so. ANPR cameras show the Mini heading in the general direction of Alex Morgan’s address.
The court hears that Brown's phone connected to the cell sites in the vicinity of Alex Morgan's home between 1.01am and 1.10am on November 15. At 1.45am, the Mini arrives back at Little Bridge Farm.
Shortly after 2am, the defendant’s white van leaves Little Bridge Farm and heads back to his home address.

16:04

Jury being shown through timeline of events​

The jury is being shown through a timeline of events with Mr Tateson still in as a witness. The timeline consists of various bits of CCTV images and text messages relating to Alex Morgan.

16:24

Witness statement being read from Mark Brown's former business partner​

A witness statement is now being read from a former business partner of Mark Brown. Brown had previously contacted the witness to discuss obtaining number plates for cars.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

17:20

Full story from court today​

Proceedings for today ended shortly after 4pm - we will be back at 10.30am tomorrow morning to continue with updates.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Alexandra Morgan was captured on CCTV cameras at a Shell petrol station just minutes before her disappearance and alleged murder, a court heard today (November 3). An employee at the station said she looked "more dressed up than usual" as she prepared for a planned meet-up with Mark Brown.

Court shown CCTV of last moments of mum alive before alleged murder

Alexandra Morgan, known as Alex, has not been seen since November 14, 2021

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

10:34

Good morning​

Good morning and welcome back to our live updates. Trial proceedings will be beginning shortly as the case moves towards the end of its third week in court.

10:40

Mark Brown arrives in court​

Mark Brown arrives in court wearing a white shirt, dark tie and waistcoat with a pair of light blue jeans. His hair is slicked back and he is cleanly shaven.

10:48 KEY EVENT

Morning session has now begun​

The morning session has now begun in court, with Kent Police officer Andrew Tateson continuing as a witness - he was giving evidence yesterday afternoon relating to Alex Morgan's disappearance.
Prosecutor Ben Lloyd asks Mr Tateson to confirm the amount of diesel purchased by Brown on the evening of November 14, 2021. The witness says the cost was exactly £10 and it was 6.67 litres of diesel.

11:04

CCTV footage being shown to court​

The jury is now being shown CCTV footage from November 17 of Brown’s work van followed by Alex Morgan’s white Mini entering Holmhurst Lane where the Mini was left. The jury is told that the van was being driven by Darren Ripley with the defendant driving Ms Morgan’s Mini.
Cell site data shows Brown’s phone connecting to sites near Holmhurst Lane.
Further phone data is read to the jury. Having not returned home on November 17, Alex Morgan’s mum made several attempts to contact her. She later filed a missing person report.
Shortly after filing the report, the parents of Alex Morgan went to her house to find financial information, as per requests made by Kent Police.

11:26

Missing persons investigation for Alex Morgan​

DC Tateson tells the court that officers from Kent Police spoke to one of Alex Morgan’s sons to see if he had any information regarding her disappearance.
The jury is now being shown CCTV footage of Brown withdrawing money from the account of Leah Ware. These withdrawals continued even after the disappearance of Alex Morgan.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

11:40

November 23 - Brown makes final withdrawal from Leah Ware's bank account​

On November 23, 2021, Brown made a final withdrawal from the bank account of Leah Ware. The withdrawal was captured on CCTV and shown to the jury.

11:47

Brown interviewed by police over missing Alex Morgan​

In the afternoon of November 23, 2021, Brown made an internet search for ‘Kent Police news', the jury is told.
The Kent Police investigation of Alex Morgan's disappearance raised her case to that of a high risk missing person. CCTV footage had shown Alex arriving at a lane by Little Bridge Farm.
DC Tateson tells jurors that on that same day, on duty officers spoke to Brown after he arrived at Little Bridge Farm in his white work van. He hands over his keys to the site and agrees to a voluntary police interview at Tonbridge Police Station. At this stage he is not arrested but gives information relating to a missing person investigation.
DC Tateson confirms that at this stage it was purely a missing persons investigation and not a murder investigation.
The detective constable also tells the court that Brown was a “significant witness” at this stage and the interview he voluntarily gave to police was recorded.

12:01

Brown 'panicked' after seeing news of missing Alex Morgan​

The court hears that, in his statement given to police at the time, Brown says he had known Alex Morgan for less than a year and only became aware of her full name after seeing the news. He admits to meeting Alex on adultwork.com and said he did not have her phone number as he panicked after seeing the news but had intended to call Crimestoppers.
He added that the shipping container inside his barn had a blow-up bed inside and that he used this for having sex.
In his statement he wrote that he had last seen Alex Morgan on November 14 when she arrived at Little Bridge Farm at 8am. Brown added that, after a cigarette and a chat, they went to the bedroom inside the shipping container. He described what she was wearing at the time.
Brown said they were together for a little under an hour and that she charges £140 per hour but he often gives her £200. He described her as “loud and chatty” but that he doesn’t have any emotional attachment to her and did not plan to leave his partner to be with her.
He also told police: "She told me she was going away somewhere and had another client to see."

12:06

More from Brown's police interview​

Jurors are being taken through more from Mark Brown's police interview in November 2021. DC Tateson is still the witness.
The court is told that during his interview with Kent Police, Brown says that his partner later arrived at the yard that afternoon (November 14), possibly to check that he wasn’t sleeping with anyone else.
He told police that on Monday (November 15) he was at a building site in Sevenoaks where they were converting a barn into a house.
Brown also added that he had been to Alex Morgan’s house several times before. On one of these occasions Brown told the police he was delivering cocaine.
Brown added that he would try to meet Alex Morgan once a week, saying: “I paid her for sex with no emotional ties”
After the police interview, Brown was allowed to drive home.

12:14 KEY EVENT

November 25 - Brown arrested on suspicion of murder​

The day after the police interview, it is alleged that Brown went to the work site in Sevenoaks where he put the keys for Alex Morgan’s Mini in a crisp packet which was left inside a digger.
On November 25, Brown is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Alex Morgan. DC Tateson says that the owner of the Sevenoaks building site speaks to police on November 26 and tells them that Brown had asked for permission to put something in his skip.
Mark Brown was charged with the murder of Alex Morgan on November 28, 2021.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

12:21

Sussex Police officer now giving evidence​

DC Tateson has now been released as a witness. He is replaced by DCI Andrew Wolstenholme of Sussex Police, who is called to give evidence. He is the senior investigating officers into the disappearance of Leah Ware.
Duncan Atkinson KC, lead prosecutor, is now back asking questions after Ben Lloyd asked questions of the last witness.
DCI Wolstenholme says that their investigation into Leah Ware began as Kent Police was trying to contact her as they felt she may be a key witness in their case. When Kent Police was unable to do so they reached out to Sussex Police and a missing persons report was filed.

12:31

Leah Ware, a mum of three, has not been seen since May 2021 (Image: Sussex Police)

'We’ve not found any trace of Leah at all'​

The witness confirms he and his team reached out to the family of Leah Ware for more information on her disappearance.
DCI Wolstenhome adds: "We've not found any trace of Leah at all. On December 8 I recorded it as a homicide investigation on the police recording system."
DCI Wolstenholme confirms that police searched the National Crime Agency database using Leah’s real name and some known aliases to see if any trace could be found. He says this was all part of the proof of life enquiries that Sussex Police undertook.
Sussex Police had checked to see if Leah had changed her name by deed poll, but she had not. There was also no evidence of her having left the country or even being in possession of a passport.
Extensive checks were made with the NHS and private healthcare providers to see if Leah had been receiving treatment anywhere, DCI Wolstenhome says.
He adds: "There were no records whatsoever of her receiving treatment within our search period."
DCI Wolstenholme confirms that a copy of any medical treatment that Leah had received would be sent to her GP but no such records had been made. Her last records of mental health care were from November and December 2020.
Searches were also made to check if Leah ware had been a blood donor. Scotland gave a negative response whilst England and Northern Ireland have yet to respond.
DCI Wolstenhome confirms enquiries were made to see if Leah Ware was registered to vote anywhere. Two addresses were registered before Little Bridge Farm but none after.
Several charities were also contacted regarding Leah but none gave any insight into her whereabouts.

12:52

'Every single police force in the UK was reached out to'​

DCI Wolstenhome is continuing to take the court through the extensive enquiries Sussex Police took to try and prove whether Leah Ware was still alive.
He says:

We reached out to every single local authority in the United Kingdom. 362 have responded and we have not received any trace at all that is Leah Ware.

Every single police force in the UK was reached out to and none had any trace within the search period.

DCI Wolstenholme says that 26 other countries in the Schengen Agreement have also not provided any trace of Leah abroad. Ms Ware has also not used a dentist within the Sussex Police search period, the police officer says.
He adds that all checks made with utility companies have come back negative as have any potential dealings with delivery companies like Just Eat and Uber.
DCI Wolstenholme adds: "Whilst Leah was a regular user of taxis, no uses have been recorded since May 4, 2021"
And: "A physical search was undertaken at Little Bridge Farm and the surrounding areas."
A large area, largely made up of woodland, was searched for Leah.

Mr Wolstenholme confirms Sussex Police had received evidence that Leah enjoyed living in the woods so they looked for signs of habitation as well as for a body.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

13:12

Court has now risen - no more evidence until Monday​

Following the end of that passage of evidence, court has now stopped for the morning session.
That will infact be the end of evidence altogether for today, with court now not sitting again until Monday.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[Ellsbells]

Alexandra Morgan was captured on CCTV cameras at a Shell petrol station just minutes before her disappearance and alleged murder, a court heard today (November 3). An employee at the station said she looked "more dressed up than usual" as she prepared for a planned meet-up with Mark Brown.

Court shown CCTV of last moments of mum alive before alleged murder

Alexandra Morgan, known as Alex, has not been seen since November 14, 2021

www.sussexlive.co.uk

View attachment 377917

i feel so sad that just hours after this capture she was murdered.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

11:00

Good morning - welcome back​

Good morning and welcome back to our live updates of the Mark Brown murder trial.
The trial should be under way shortly.

11:15

Still waiting for court to begin​

There is a slightly later start to proceedings this morning - we will update when things are looking like they're about to get under way.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

12:18 KEY EVENT

Court is now under way​

Following a delayed start, the trial has now begun for the day at Hove Crown Court.
We are starting with where Friday's proceedings left off - Sussex Police's DSI Andy Wolstenholme is giving evidence. Mr Danny Moore is cross-examining the witness on behalf of the defence.
Mr Moore begins questioning DSI Wolstenholme on the six names (one being her actual name and the others being aliases) used by Sussex Police when trying to find any trace of Leah Ware.
When asked how Leah used these aliases and how police learned of them, DSI Wolstenholme answers: "A mixture of social media, speaking to relatives, official records"

12:31

Questions about Sussex Police's proof of life checks​

DSI Wolstenholme confirms to the court it is “not impossible” to obtain false documents or travel somewhere illegally.
Mr Moore begins asking about healthcare checks made by Sussex Police during proof of life investigations. The court hears that various healthcare agencies have not provided responses to Sussex Police’s enquiries.
Mr Moore asks DSI Wolstenholme to confirm that it is not necessary to have an ID when registering with the NHS, although it is helpful. Homeless people are also unable to be refused based on where they live.
Mr Moore now asks about charities and refuges that were contacted by Sussex Police. It is possible to maintain anonymity when receiving support from various support charities.
The court also hears that National Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association has been approached with the hope that they would pass on information provided to them by Sussex Police. DSI Wolstenholme confirms that it was a difficult enquiry to make to the National Gyspy Roma Traveller Police Association as Leah’s family has said they are not travellers and there is no evidence that Leah was a traveller.

12:56

Jury now being taken through agreed facts​

Prosecutor Ben Lloyd is now taking the jury through the set of agreed facts in the case - these are facts that have both been agreed by the prosecution and defence teams.

13:20

Court has now stopped for lunch​

After the reading of some of those agreed facts - mostly surrounding key dates in the case - the court has broken for lunch.
There will be a shortened break to account for the later start this morning.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The afternoon session has not yet begun in court.

This trial seems to be rather haphazard in times starting and ending, and some days not heard at all. No wonder they estimated 5 weeks.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

14:57

UPDATE | Court will not be sitting this afternoon​

We have now had it confirmed that court will not be sitting this afternoon. The trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

The afternoon session has not yet begun in court.

This trial seems to be rather haphazard in times starting and ending, and some days not heard at all. No wonder they estimated 5 weeks.

Definitely! Appreciate updates anyway

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

10:29

Good morning - trial to resume this morning​

Good morning and welcome back. The trial is due to resume this morning following the early finish yesterday.

11:14

Morning session has now begun​

Mark Brown has entered court wearing a dark suit. The jury is also here, as is the judge and things are now due to begin in court for today.
The judge tells the jury before the case begins: "There is some problem with the lights so we’re on emergency lighting."

11:22

Jury being taken through agreed facts​

The court is continuing where it left off yesterday - agreed facts are being run through by the prosecution.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

11:35

Leah Ware's bank card last used in November 2021​

As part of the agreed facts, the jury hears that Leah Ware's bank card was last used to withdraw cash on November 5, 2021. The bank card has not been found by police.
The jury is also shown a picture of the building site digger and the packet in which Alexandra Morgan's car key was found in. They are told police tried it in the Mini and it fit.

11:42

Leah Ware has a long history of mental health issues​

The jury is also told as part of the agreed facts that Leah Ware's medical records have confirmed a long history of mental health issues including chronic substance abuse, PTSD, bipolar.
She was assaulted in 2018 and moved to London to "get away". She was first diagnosed with bipolar in 2012 and was on antidepressants prior to that.
In March 2019, Leah Ware gave Mark Brown permission to collect her prescriptions. The court hears that side effects of Leah not taking some of her medication included pain, increased anxiety and insomnia.

12:07

Items found at Sevenoaks building site​

Among the items found at the building site in Sevenoaks by police was the key to the Mini in a digger, the court hears. Inside an oil drum were some hair straighteners and fragments of burnt human bones and teeth. Items of Alex Morgan's jewellery were also recovered.
The jury is also shown pictures of inside Little Bridge Farm, including the container at Brown's site. A photo is also shown a building at the farm with three locks on the door, one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom. These pictures were taken in November 2021.

Images also show a wooden door within one of the buildings at Little Bridge Farm which had a bolt fitted at the top and the bottom from the outside. There was also a bin that police found that included a used condom and wrapper that featured DNA of both Alex Morgan and Mark Brown.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

12:38

Agreed facts about items found in Alex Morgan's home​

The jury is taken through agreed facts relating to what has found at Alex Morgan's home by police. Two notes were found, one of which was for her son and said "let's go rollerskating" - this led to the box in her son's room that was full of cash (£2,680 in total), rollerblades and a further handwritten note.

12:54

DSI Andy Wolstenholme called back as witness​

Following the end of the agreed facts, Sussex Police's DSI Andy Wolstenholme is called back as a witness to address a few points.
He confirms to the court that police have chased 21 local authorities whom they contacted as part of their 'proof of life' work related to Leah Ware. He also confirms that Leah was not part of the Traveller community.
He is then released as a witness.

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

13:22

UPDATE | Court has now finished for the day​

Following the end of DSI Wolstenholme's brief return as a witness, court broke up for lunch.
That will also be the end of trial proceedings for today, with jurors being dismissed until Thursday - there is no trial sitting tomorrow either.
Everyone will reconvene on Thursday morning (November 10).

Mark Brown guilty of two murders - live updates

The trial has focused on the disappearances of Alex Morgan and Leah Ware

www.sussexlive.co.uk

 

[LammyTheRobot]

Hmm. Not saying he isn’t guilty, I’ve no idea, but all they seem to have proven beyond doubt is that LW is indeed missing possibly deceased, and that MB definitely did dispose of AM’s body. Which he’s already admitted to.

It’s concerning.

 

[crespo29]

I have been at the trial for a couple of sessions and intend to be there for the summing ups. It seems quite clear to me so far that the defendant has not got any kind of defence. In the public gallery, I dont know for sure but they seem to be family and friends of AM & LW.I am expecting the final summing up to be next Monday and Tuesday. On a less serious note, it is disappointing that it is not possible to have a cup of tea at the courts at present.

 

[LammyTheRobot]

I have been at the trial for a couple of sessions and intend to be there for the summing ups. It seems quite clear to me so far that the defendant has not got any kind of defence. In the public gallery, I dont know for sure but they seem to be family and friends of AM & LW.I am expecting the final summing up to be next Monday and Tuesday. On a less serious note, it is disappointing that it is not possible to have a cup of tea at the courts at present.

Ahah I completely agree re the tea

Re MB; he doesn't need a defence - the prosecution need to prove him guilty. If the prosecution can only prove that he disposed of AM's body, and that LW is missing, no juror should - IMO - say guilty to the other crimes. JMO and I accept it's controversial - I also think MB likely is guilty but I'm thankfully not on the jury being asked to convict someone "beyond a reasonable doubt".