GUILTY UK - Louise Smith, 16, Havant, Hampshire, 8 May 2020 *Arrest*

[Legally Bland]

13 minutes ago
Louise’s body burned ‘like a bonfire’
Forensics scientist Martin Crooks said sticks found on top of Louise’s body imply she was burned in a bonfire-style structure.

He said: ‘Sticks were stuck on top of the body in the same way as a bonfire, to aid the combustion.'

10 minutes ago
Piece of fabric found on Louise’s body
Despite her body being burned, Martin Crooks says forensics found a piece of fabric that hadn’t burned away. This was taken as a sample, alongside soil samples and a piece of moss that had been under her body.

 

[Legally Bland]

14:54DAVID POWELL
Scientist says it's "highly likely" a cigarette lighter was used in fire
MC: It's "Given the extent of the damage to the body and the ground and the log it is highly likely that an accelerant had been used."

It is "more than likely" that that was a cigarette lighter," he added.

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

14:55DAVID POWELL
Cross examination of scientist
Andrew Langdon QC is cross examining Martin Crooks

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

14:57DAVID POWELL
Ignition is "quite a challenge"
MC to defence barrister: "In order to get a body to ignite and combust successfully - it's quite a challenge."

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

14:59DAVID POWELL
Petrol can form a vapour and ignite - scientist
MC tells the defence barrister: "Petrol will readily evaporate into the air and form a vapour which in the right conditions will ignite."

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

15:07DAVID POWELL
Scientist wearing blue gloves
MC has put on blue, hygienic gloves and been asked to identify a small, burned piece of metal found at the scene. But he said he had tried to work that out during his investigations and couldn't positively identify the exhibit.

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

15:20DAVID POWELL
Scientist on how clothing burns
The defence barrister has finished his cross examination of Martin Crooks.

Mr Crooks is being re-examined by prosecutor James Newton-Price QC about how clothing burns.

MC is saying that most garments comprise a combination of natural and synthetic materials. The latter will have fire damage because it is ultimately derived from "crude oil."

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/live-louise-smith-court-case-4734081

 

[Legally Bland]

15:24DAVID POWELL
Short break
The court has adjourned.

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Kiranerys]

With all those awful injuries would it be possible to tell if she was in the early stages of pregnancy?

Good point,I'm guessing that the hcg would show up in the blood screens but would they routinely test for it?

 

[Bethan]

Lighter fluid ( for re-fillable cigarette lighters) is easily available in the UK & is sold by Tesco & presumably newsagents or other outlets who sell tobacco.

It comes in a 100/125/ 133ml tin & would perhaps arouse less suspicion than someone buying petrol & petrol can, if that person had no car or petrol lawnmower. Also easier to conceal.

It contains Naphtha ( petroleum) & could be used as an accelerant.

All MOO

 

[Hoggle]

I can't recall what detail he gave about his altercation with L but given the substantial inhalation of blood point noted here, that can only have happened while alive and strongly points to quite a beating matching the facial injuries described. That didn't happen from a broken nose or split lip. Also might suggest she was lying down at that point for it to go into lungs and not stomach. IMO seems difficult to argue manslaughter only

 

[Legally Bland]

15:44DAVID POWELL
Insect expert in witness box
A forensic entomologist Hannah Moore is in the witness box now.

She is saying she was asked to analyse the age of larvae in samples sent to her after the body was discovered. She did not go to the scene.

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[elliefant]

given the substantial inhalation of blood point noted here, that can only have happened while alive and strongly points to quite a beating matching the facial injuries described.

Gosh yes, how stupid of me to overlook that. How absolutely horrific that she was alive given the ferocity of those blows.

 

[Legally Bland]

15:48DAVID POWELL
Larvae present "on May 8 or May 9"
Ms Moore tells prosecutor James Newton-Price QC that she estimates that "a female fly laid her eggs (at the scene) on Friday, May 8 or Saturday, May 9."

It would rarely happen at night and normally be in "daylight hours".

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[Legally Bland]

1 minute ago
Jury to visit crime scene
Mrs Justice May has arranged for a site view to take place on Monday, so that members of the jury can visit the crime scene.

They will visit the location in Havant Thicket where Louise’s body was found, as well as Ringwood House where Mays lived.

 

[Legally Bland]

15:57DAVID POWELL
Murder trial ends for the day
Proceedings have finished for today.

We'll have a round up of today's evidence shortly.

Thank you for following our live blog of the trial which continues tomorrow.

Live updates on Louise Smith murder case from day 6 of trial

 

[elliefant]

Thank you for all the updates @Legally Bland

 

[Legally Bland]

1 minute ago
Mays to speak in court next week
With the site visit planned for next Monday, it is believed that Mays will appear in the stand the following day.

Defending, Andrew Langdon QC says Mays accepts an attack on Louise, but not the burning or defiling of her body.

 

[Skigh]

Highlight the text, then press the insert button (just left of the floppy disk button) and select spoiler.

Thank you for all the updates @Legally Bland

Thanks very much for updates and I have learnt how to add a spoiler.

 

[polerina]

I can't recall what detail he gave about his altercation with L but given the substantial inhalation of blood point noted here, that can only have happened while alive and strongly points to quite a beating matching the facial injuries described. That didn't happen from a broken nose or split lip. Also might suggest she was lying down at that point for it to go into lungs and not stomach. IMO seems difficult to argue manslaughter only

I was thinking the same thing when I read the description. L was most likely lying on her back and receiving devastating blows to her face, causing the broken bones and significant loss of blood, sadly she must have been breathing at the time and been aspirating on the blood. I can only hope she became unconscious very early on in the beating and didn't 'feel' the rest.

I've read most of this thread, but I am unsure about one detail. It's a little graphic, but was the stick inserted inside her? To me this sounds like it could be a crude attempt to destroy evidence of an early pregnancy or previous rape. It could also be an expression of anger and disgust - perhaps Mays attempted to rape her but couldn't sustain an erection, so violated her with a stick instead? I wonder if he was known to have sexual problems? This can be the result of too much alcohol, weed or other drugs - do we know whether he was imbibing? I could also see this as a suggestion given to him by CJ, someone in her position 'could' be filled with a jealouse hatred of a younger prettier girl who is attracting the attention of their partner. Insecure and furious, perhaps finding out that they had a sexual encounter, she could have masterminded the whole thing. Obviously this is just my opinion and speculation, i'm not basing it on anything other than knoledge of previous cases and an assesment of the situation as far as I understand it