GUILTY UK - Mee Kuen "Deborah" Chong, 67, Wembley, London, decapitated in woods, Salcombe, Jun 2021 *arrest

[MsMiniSleuth]

A year until the trial? Seems a long time.

A lot to work through. Plus, of course, all the courts still have a massive backlog as unfortunately Covid didn't put a stop to crimes being committed.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Dec 23

A WOMAN has denied murdering an OAP after her headless body was found in woodlands 250 miles away from home.

Jemma Mitchell, 37, is accused of killing 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong and driving more than 250 miles to Devon to dump her body.



Mitchell appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday via videolink from HMP Bromfield wearing a white blouse, and spoke only to confirm her name.

Outlining the charges against the 37-year-old, prosecutor Oliver Glasgow told the court: "The allegation is that she [Mitchell] murdered Mee Kuen Chong.

"She was reported missing on the June 11, but it wasn't until June 27 that her headless body was discovered by a family walking their dog in Devon."

The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft QC, remanded Mitchell in custody ahead of her trial on 26 September next year.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17128615/woman-in-court-over-beheading-oap/

 

[Amonet]

26th September next year seems such a long time away for trial!

I also always wonder about the rest of Deborah's remains

 

[Alyce]

Oh I see - really a shame that this has to happen

 

[Tortoise]

"A property developer accused of murdering and beheading a pensioner was unrepresented in court because her barrister is on strike."

No barrister in court for accused beheader – Court News UK

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

What’s on at the Old Bailey on August 8​

Court 12 at 9.30am Pre-trial review in the case of property developer, Jemma Mitchell accused of murder. Mee Kuen Chong, 67, known to friends as Deborah, was reported missing from her home in Wembley, north London, on June 11. Her headless body was found 250 miles away in woodland near the Devon town of Salcombe.

What’s on at the Old Bailey on August 8

What’s on at the Old Bailey on August 8

old-bailey.com

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The Crown Court
at Central Criminal Court

Daily Courtroom List for Wednesday 28 September 2022 FINAL 2


Court 12 - sitting at 10:00 am

THE COMMON SERJEANT OF LONDON

Custody Time Limit application T20217217MITCHELL Jemma
01MP0140621NWLNMCPS
DTA

CourtServe - Live Court Listings

Daily lists from the Crown, County & Family Courts, RCJ and Employment Tribunals for Barristers Chambers, Solicitors & Law firms

www.courtserve.net

 

[Alyce]

Central Criminal Court​	12​	T20217217​	jemma mitchell​
Details: Custody Time Limit application - Case Started - 10:02 Custody Time Limit application - Hearing finished for JEMMA MITCHELL - 10:25

https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Central-Criminal-Court.php

 

[Tortoise]

"A trial date was initially put down to take place earlier this week on September 26. However, due to the ongoing strike action by the Criminal Bar Association, the case has now been fixed for October 11."

Property developer accused of murder faces trial

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The Crown Court
at Central Criminal Court


Daily Courtroom List for Tuesday 11 October 2022

FINAL 1


CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
NOT BEFORE 11:00 am


For Trial


T20217217
MITCHELL Jemma
DTA

CourtServe - Live Court Listings

Daily lists from the Crown, County & Family Courts, RCJ and Employment Tribunals for Barristers Chambers, Solicitors & Law firms

www.courtserve.net

 

[Alyce]

Finally started

Central Criminal Court​	12​	T20217217​	jemma mitchell​
Details: For Trial - Case adjourned until 00:00 - 12:54 For Trial - Case Started - 12:55 For Trial - Case adjourned until 14:15 - 13:07 For Trial - Resume - 14:14 For Trial - Trial Ineffective - 15:03 For Trial - Prosecution Opening - 15:12

https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Central-Criminal-Court.php

 

[Skigh]

Woman, 38, 'expert in dissection, murdered woman and cut her head off'

Property developer Jemma Mitchell, 38, allegedly killed 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong and drove more than 250 miles to Devon to dump her body.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Mitchell studied Human Sciences at Kings College London from where she graduated with a first-class degree in 2004.

'During her degree course, she completed a module called the Structural Basis of Human Function in which she was taught how to dissect the entire human body, with the exception of the head and neck,' said prosecutor Deanna Heer.

'She also completed an additional special study course in Experimental Anatomy.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Woman, 38, 'expert in dissection, murdered woman and cut her head off'

Property developer Jemma Mitchell, 38, allegedly killed 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong and drove more than 250 miles to Devon to dump her body.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Mitchell studied Human Sciences at Kings College London from where she graduated with a first-class degree in 2004.

'During her degree course, she completed a module called the Structural Basis of Human Function in which she was taught how to dissect the entire human body, with the exception of the head and neck,' said prosecutor Deanna Heer.

'She also completed an additional special study course in Experimental Anatomy.

Oh my word!

 

[JuicyLucy]

Woman, 38, 'expert in dissection, murdered woman and cut her head off'

Property developer Jemma Mitchell, 38, allegedly killed 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong and drove more than 250 miles to Devon to dump her body.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Mitchell studied Human Sciences at Kings College London from where she graduated with a first-class degree in 2004.

'During her degree course, she completed a module called the Structural Basis of Human Function in which she was taught how to dissect the entire human body, with the exception of the head and neck,' said prosecutor Deanna Heer.

'She also completed an additional special study course in Experimental Anatomy.

The DM's summary of the opening arguments is so detailed it's answered pretty much all my questions about the case already. What an extraordinary story. (If true, innocent until proven guilty, obviously.)

 

[MarziPanda]

Also mentioned in the opening statement was that her head was found on the 1st of July (rest of body found June 27th), about 10 metres away from the body, for anyone wondering if they found her head. There was a skull fracture to the head.

 

[Ched]

Oh wow , I’d forgotten about this case . What a terrible thing .

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A devout Christian trained in human dissection killed and decapitated her church friend, the Old Bailey has heard.

Jemma Mitchell, 38, is accused of murdering 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong after falling out over money in 2021.

Ms Chong was reported missing from her home in Wembley, London, and her headless body found more than 200 miles (320km) away in woods near Salcombe, Devon, 16 days later.

Ms Mitchell, from Brent, denies murder.

Opening Ms Mitchell's trial, Deanna Heer KC said: "It is the prosecution case that she assaulted and killed the deceased, and then transported her body to Salcombe in a large blue suitcase where she attempted to dispose of it in the woods."

'Headless body'​

The prosecutor said Ms Mitchell visited the victim on the day she went missing, 11 June, and was captured on CCTV footage walking from Ms Chong's house with two suitcases.

"The larger of the two was obviously very heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. It is the prosecution case that it contained the body of Mee Kuen Chong," Ms Heer said.

She argued Ms Mitchell had travelled to Salcombe with the suitcase on 26 June in a rented grey Volvo, adding the vehicle was captured on CCTV footage driving towards the area of woodland where Ms Chong's body was found.

[...]

Ms Heer said a post-mortem examination had been unable to determine the woman's cause of death due to the degree of decomposition, but her body appeared to have been cut and there were signs of assault, including a skull fracture suggesting "significant impact by a blunt object very shortly before death".

[...]

Ms Heer said devout Christian Ms Mitchell had befriended the victim through church, but they "had recently fallen out over money".

Ms Chong was described as vulnerable and prone to erratic behaviour, and had been referred to a community mental health team after sending letters to the then Prince Charles and Boris Johnson.

At the time of the Ms Chong's death, Ms Mitchell was living with her mother at a family home in Brent, which was in a state of disrepair, jurors heard.

The property had no roof and was covered in scaffolding, and Ms Chong had agreed to hand over £200,000 to help with repairs, the prosecution claims, before she had a change of heart.

Ms Mitchell denies murdering Ms Chong on a date between 10 and 27 June 10 last year.

The trial continues.

Devout Christian decapitated her church friend, trial told

The headless body of Mee Kuen Chong, 67, was found 16 days after she went missing.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Luwin]

Also mentioned in the opening statement was that her head was found on the 1st of July (rest of body found June 27th), about 10 metres away from the body, for anyone wondering if they found her head. There was a skull fracture to the head.

Seems quite strange that it took 3 days to find Deborah's head when it was only 10m away.

The poor family that stumbled across the body - anyone finding a body must be traumatic, but a decapitated one.... stuff of nightmares.

 

[Tortoise]

Seems quite strange that it took 3 days to find Deborah's head when it was only 10m away.

The poor family that stumbled across the body - anyone finding a body must be traumatic, but a decapitated one.... stuff of nightmares.

I know, I can't imagine.

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

Although WS is based in the USA, we do try to manage the various discussions according to laws of other countries.

As this case is in the UK it is under sub judice from the time of arrest through to conclusion of the trial. Accordingly, please do not post anything that violates the following basic principles of sub judice:

Basically anything that may prejudice the accused’s right to a fair trial
Any suggestion, opinion, or direct accusations that the accused is either guilty OR innocent
(i.e. the accused cannot be called "the killer"; use "the accused", "the alleged killer", or "the defendant")
A defendant’s previous history of any offences is off limits
Scandalizing the court (disparaging judges, lawyers, any officer of the Court) is off limits
Broadcasting anything about proceedings which happen in the jury's absence is off limits
Any non compliance with an Order of the court is off limits

Note in the event of an Appeal subsequent to verdict:

Appeals are usually heard by senior judges who are not likely to be influenced by the media, therefore responsible comment is usually considered acceptable once a trial has concluded, regardless of if there is going to be an appeal.


Reference: UK Contempt of Court Act 1981