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

[Harchmare]

20 minutes ago
Court finishes for the day
The trial has finished for the day.

It will resume tomorrow morning at 10.30am.

Live trial updates as Shane Mays is accused of murdering teenager Louise Smith

Many thanks Harchmare ( love that name ) for the updates, much appreciated.

And Legally of course as always

Thanks Alyce I was happy to help.

 

[Deppy]

Thanks for the updates Legally and Harchmare! Really appreciate everything

 

[Deppy]

I just cant stand the thought of what he had done to her, it’s heartbreaking!

 

[characternote]

I just cant stand the thought of what he had done to her, it’s heartbreaking!

it's awful.
The stick thing Reminds me of a documentary I saw about a child rapist (both the rapist and the female victim being children).
Also reminds me of an old episode of 'cracker' that plays on my mind.

 

[Justice4all9]

Obviously SM is a liar and the worst sort of evil, but the suggestion of Cjays dna also being on the stick haunts me. He denies burning Louise, its not beyond the realm that Cjay knew what he'd done and went back to destroy the evidence herself.

I am devastated for Louise and all who loved her, all those kids at her school, everyone in that community, their life will never be the same.

 

[Bogyo13]

Is it known why she had a social worker?

Obviously SM is a liar and the worst sort of evil, but the suggestion of Cjays dna also being on the stick haunts me. He denies burning Louise, its not beyond the realm that Cjay knew what he'd done and went back to destroy the evidence herself.

I am devastated for Louise and all who loved her, all those kids at her school, everyone in that community, their life will never be the same.

That about CJ crossed my mind too. But depends on the type of disability she has.
Plus she'd be only able to find the body if SM showed it to her. I guess they can't prove that.
Also it's not known when her body was burnt, how long after the death MOO

 

[HollyHunter9]

11:00
Proceedings have now begun
Proceedings have now begun for the morning, with prosecutor James Newton-Price QC calling witness Chloe Edwards-Guest to come and give evidence.

She is aged 19 and got to know Louise through Bradley, Louise's boyfriend.

They met towards the end of 2019.

10:33
Waiting for this morning's session to begin
We are just currently waiting for Thursday's morning session to get under way in court.

10:32
Today's proceedings
It is expected that today's proceedings will begin with prosecutor James Newton-Price QC continuing where he left off yesterday afternoon.

That'll be with CCTV evidence and phone evidence from Louise.

 

[HollyHunter9]

Live updates from day four of Louise Smith murder trial

 

[Legally Bland]

28 minutes ago
Louise’s friend takes the stand


Louise’s friend Chloe Edwards takes the stand.

She says Louise’s relationship with Bradley was ‘very good’.

22 minutes ago
Friend reveals Louise had arguments with Mays


Chloe tells the court she met up with Louise after seeing a troubled picture of her online.

The witness said Louise told her about ‘arguments with CJ and Shane’ but did not go into any specific details.

13 minutes ago
Louise allowed to smoke drugs again


Louise tells friend Chloe she is ‘allowed to smoke week again’ by Mays and his wife CJ at their flat.

Chloe tells the court that Louise ‘never really’ ventured out far from where she lived.

10 minutes ago
Louise ‘rebellious’


‘Louise was not allowed to have her phone and was not allowed out,’ Chloe tells the court.

Louise reacted to her situation by being ‘rebellious’.

1 minute ago
Louise admits troubles living with Mays


Louise tells best friend she was having troubles living with Mays and his wife CJ.

During an online chat Louise said: ‘It’s hard because I’m trying my hardest to be happy but they drag me down.'

 

[HollyHunter9]

11:28
One friend had planned to meet up with Louise on May 8
A statement is being read by one friend, who said that she and Louise had planned to meet up on May 8.

She said that Louise seemed happy to meet up, but there was an issue about getting the money together to do so.

The friend sent a message to Louise at 1.48pm on May 8 asking what she wanted to do in the afternoon, but that was not opened and there was no reply.

11:25
Evidence now being read to the jury
Some statements are now going to be read out to the jury by Mr Newton-Price and the other prosecution counsel, Mr Houston.

11:23
Witness has now finished giving evidence
Chloe Edwards-Guest has now finished giving evidence.

11:06
Talking through her relationship with Louise
Mr Newton-Price is discussing Chloe's friendship with Louise, including what they used to talk about and when.

That includes when they discussed Louise's relationship and difficulties with her family members and where she was staying at certain occasions.

The pair last spoke on May 8, the day that Louise went missing.

Live updates from day four of Louise Smith murder trial

 

[Legally Bland]

11:00KEY EVENT
Proceedings have now begun
Proceedings have now begun for the morning, with prosecutor James Newton-Price QC calling witness Chloe Edwards-Guest to come and give evidence.

She is aged 19 and got to know Louise through Bradley, Louise's boyfriend.

They met towards the end of 2019.

11:06Alex Boyd
Talking through her relationship with Louise
Mr Newton-Price is discussing Chloe's friendship with Louise, including what they used to talk about and when.

That includes when they discussed Louise's relationship and difficulties with her family members and where she was staying at certain occasions.

The pair last spoke on May 8, the day that Louise went missing.

11:23Alex Boyd
Witness has now finished giving evidence
Chloe Edwards-Guest has now finished giving evidence.

11:25Alex Boyd
Evidence now being read to the jury
Some statements are now going to be read out to the jury by Mr Newton-Price and the other prosecution counsel, Mr Houston.

11:28Alex Boyd
One friend had planned to meet up with Louise on May 8
A statement is being read by one friend, who said that she and Louise had planned to meet up on May 8.

She said that Louise seemed happy to meet up, but there was an issue about getting the money together to do so.

The friend sent a message to Louise at 1.48pm on May 8 asking what she wanted to do in the afternoon, but that was not opened and there was no reply.

11:36Alex Boyd
Another statement from a friend
Mr Houston is now reading another statement from a friend who used to regularly speak to Louise by messaging on Snapchat or Whatsapp.

The pair would speak almost every day.

On May 7, Louise messaged her to ask if she could stay at her house, but that was not possible.

Her last contact with Louise was at around 11.30am to 12pm on May 8, with Louise asking whether she would like to meet up.

The friend was busy, so that did not happen.

The statement said that there was "nothing different in her [Louise's] behaviour leading up to May 8 that I can think of".

The friend also tried to message Louise later on May 8, but did not receive a reply.

Live updates from day four of Louise Smith murder trial

 

[HollyHunter9]

Sorry legally bland,we've crossed over! You're probably much more experienced and better than me at copying the updates

 

[Legally Bland]

I need to go out now, if anyone is free to update that would be appreciated. If not am happy to catch up when I get back.

 

[Legally Bland]

Sorry legally bland,we've crossed over! You're probably much more experienced and better than me at copying the updates

Just cross-posted again. If you can do some that would be great.

 

[HollyHunter9]

Ok. I've got to go out this afternoon but happy to cover until then.

 

[Legally Bland]

Ok. I've got to go out this afternoon but happy to cover until then.

Thanks, touch-wood I should be free this afternoon.

 

[HollyHunter9]

11:41
More statements from friends being read
Mr Houston is continuing to read through more statements from people who had spoken to Louise in the days before and after May 8.

They mostly relate to the type of conversations they had with Louise, and how they knew her.

All also state the last time they had spoken to Louise, and make note of instances when they had sent messages on May 8 and not received a reply to them.

Live updates from day four of Louise Smith murder trial

 

[HollyHunter9]

11:49
Samantha Burt called to give evidence
Following the conclusion of that read evidence, Mr Newton-Price QC has called Samantha Burt to give evidence.
11:52

Louise stayed with her back in 2018
Louise stayed with Samantha for a period in 2018, but the pair lost contact for a while and got back in touch at the start of 2020.

They would talk over messages and on the phone, but did not meet in person.

Live updates from day four of Louise Smith murder trial

 

[Harchmare]

Thanks, touch-wood I should be free this afternoon.

I can take over if necessary.

 

[HollyHunter9]

11:52
Louise stayed with her back in 2018
Louise stayed with Samantha for a period in 2018, but the pair lost contact for a while and got back in touch at the start of 2020.

They would talk over messages and on the phone, but did not meet in person


11:56
Pair spoke on the phone in May
Samantha has told the court that she and Louise spoke over the phone in May.

She said that Louise was crying and saying that she did not want to live with CJ and Shane Mays anymore.

Samantha offered for her to come and stay with her.

The witness said that Louise told her that she "hated being there", referring to Ringwood House and being with CJ and Shane.

The teenager also said that the Mays couple were treating her like a child.

As we know from the opening note on Tuesday (November 17), Louise did not stay with Samantha and did end up staying that night at Ringwood House.