GUILTY UK - Lucy McHugh, 13, murdered,, Southampton, 25 July 2018

[Tortoise]

The prosecutor's name is actually William Mousley QC

William Mousley QC - 2 King's Bench Walk

 

[Tortoise]

12:53pm

Mr Moseley said the bonfire took place around 5.30pm.

12:54pm

The court hears how on July 26, around 7.30am, Lucy McHugh's body is found by a dog walker.

12:55pm

Mr Moseley said Lucy had suffered stab wounds to her neck and chest - causing what he described as "catastrophic" injuries, from which Lucy died.

12:56pm

He adds: "Such injuries, the prosecution say, could only be caused by someone who intended to kill her."

12:57pm

Mr Moseley tells the court that no murder weapon has ever been found, but that the injuries suggest the use of a knife of at least 7cm.

12:59pm

The court hears how the two pieces of plastic were found at the scene. Mr Moseley says the two pieces fitted together and "appear to come from a knife handle".

1:05pm

The court will now break for lunch. The opening is set to continue at 2pm.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[Alyce]

The prosecutor's name is actually William Mousley QC

William Mousley QC - 2 King's Bench Walk

Ha, no wonder I couldnt find him !

 

[Tortoise]

Nicholson is also charged with sexual activity with a child in relation to another girl aged 14, dated June 29 2012.

[...]

Mr Mousley said that Nicholson, who was staying at his mother's house at the time after being asked to leave Lucy's home, visited his alleged victim's house on July 23 to feed his pet reptiles.

He said Nicholson ended up in an argument with Lucy, who was heard to shout at the defendant "This is all your fault" and "I have got a hold on you anyway".

Mr Mousley added that Nicholson told a friend that Lucy had let down his bike's tyres and stolen some money from him.

Carer 'stabbed girl to death after sexually exploiting her'

 

[Tortoise]

I'm going to be MIA for a few hours if anyone feels like posting updates. If not I'll try and do them later.

 

[HayLouise]

2:08pm

The trial continues after a lunch break.

2:10pm

Mr Mousley says on the day Lucy's body is found, Nicholson returns to work.

2:11pm

Police informed Lucy's mother of the discovery of a body believed to be Lucy.

2:13pm

Mr Mousley said Nicholson returned to the neighbours who he had sent the bonfire message to and asked for the note back. The neighbour said they had thrown it in the bin.


2:16pm

The court is told how Nicholson switched his sim card from his Samsung phone to a Motorola mobile. The Samsung was not found until September, in a work locker at Ikea, used by Nicholson's brother.

2:17pm

Mr Mousley says Nicholson also reset his Facebook password.

2:19pm

Nicholson was later arrested at Totton rail station, carrying a bag of spare clothing and a list of phone numbers.

2:19pm

Nicholson was later arrested at Totton rail station, carrying a bag of spare clothing and a list of phone numbers.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:21pm

Mr Mousley tells the court that Tanner's Brook in Southampton was finger-tipped search for four weeks by police officers.

2:22pm

Eventually, he says, police found a Tesco bag, containing a blood-stained hoody, two Nike gloves, four more bloodstained gloves in a pocket. Beside it were a pair of tracksuit bottoms. He said there was a scorched area beside the bag, indicating a small fire.

2:24pm

The court is shown pictures of the clothing.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

20 June 2019:

Care worker 'murdered Lucy McHugh, 13, after sexual abuse'

Stephen Nicholson (right) in the dock at Winchester crown court in an artist’s sketch. Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA

“The killer, who the prosecution say was Stephen Nicholson, then left her either dying or dead in a hidden area and made his escape. The investigation enabled a complete picture to be established of events and the behaviour of Stephen Nicholson before, during and after the day of the murder which makes for a compelling case.

“The evidence gathered also identified a series of sexual offences he had carried out against Lucy in the year before killing her as well as another offence against a single teenage girl in 2012.”

Nicholson, of Southampton, denies the murder of Lucy, three counts of raping her when she was 12 and two counts of sexual activity with a child when she was 13. He also denies sexual activity with a child relating to another girl five years earlier.

The trial continues.

Care worker 'murdered Lucy McHugh, 13, after sexual abuse'

 

[HayLouise]

2:29pm

Mr Mousley said a burnt waistband from underpants found at the scene matched two pairs found in a washing basket in Mansel Road East. Those two pairs were found to have Nicholson's DNA on them and were from a pack of three pairs from Tesco - the pair found at Tanner's Brook matched those.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:31pm

The court hears how police carried out DNA testing of the clothes found at Tanner's Brook. Mr Mousley says the DNA on the items matched the DNA from Lucy and Nicholson.


LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:36pm

Mr Mousley says the sexual relationship between Nicholson and Lucy was discovered after her death, through notes and diary entries found during police searches.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[Alyce]

I had not realised SN knew both SW and RE

Opening the case at Winchester crown court, the prosecutor told jurors that Nicholson had been friends with Lucy’s stepfather, Richard Elmes, 22, and moved into their home.

Care worker 'murdered Lucy McHugh, 13, after sexual abuse'

 

[HayLouise]

2:38pm

In the notes, Lucy details a sexual relationship with Nicholson and talks about "missing him", Mr Mousley said.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:40pm

The court hears after her death, Lucy's mother's partner also found a note which had gone through a clothing wash titled 'Abuse', in which Lucy refers to being raped.


LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:44pm

Mr Mousley says the letters, which detail specific incidents on specific days, make up the basis of the allegations of sexual abuse against Nicholson - which he denies.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:45pm

Mr Mousley said that Lucy had expressed concerns she may have been pregnant around the time of Nicholson's birthday in May 2018, the court hears.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:49pm

The court is also told how Lucy's previous school had become concerned about Lucy was having a sexual relationship and asked her about it. According to Mr Mousley, she described him to one teacher as "her boyfriend" but told another teacher he was just someone who slept on the sofa at her house.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

(Underlining this, as I know it's also been said he had a room at the house)

 

[HayLouise]

2:54pm

Mr Mousley tells the court that during the police investigation into Nicholson, a girl had approached the police, after recognising Nicholson's picture, claiming she had sex with him when she was just 14.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[HayLouise]

2:55pm

The court hears how the girl said the incident, in June 2012, took place in a wooded area of Southampton Sports Centre - the same area where Lucy's body was found.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

 

[Alyce]

2:49pm

The court is also told how Lucy's previous school had become concerned about Lucy was having a sexual relationship and asked her about it. According to Mr Mousley, she described him to one teacher as "her boyfriend" but told another teacher he was just someone who slept on the sofa at her house.

LIVE: Murder accused 'was in sexual relationship with 13-year-old schoolgirl'

(Underlining this, as I know it's also been said he had a room at the house)

Thanks - sounds like no separate room then ?

Also, wonder why teacher/s did not speak to SW if they had concerns re Lucy