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

[Harchmare]

2 minutes ago
Shane Mays back in the dock
Prosecutor James Newton-Price QC and defence barrister Andrew Langdon QC are in court making legal representations to the judge Mrs Justice Juliet May.

No jury are present yet.

Louise Smith murder trial: Live updates as Shane Mays set to give evidence

(They've woken up!)

 

[Legally Bland]

2 minutes ago
Shane Mays back in the dock
Prosecutor James Newton-Price QC and defence barrister Andrew Langdon QC are in court making legal representations to the judge Mrs Justice Juliet May.

No jury are present yet.

Louise Smith murder trial: Live updates as Shane Mays set to give evidence

(They've woken up!)

Let us know if you need a hand @Harchmare.

 

[Harchmare]

The judge leaves the court to consider representations.

Mays leaves dock.

Here is yesterday afternoon’s report.

Murder accused admits lying to police about Louise Smith as he 'didn't want to get into trouble'

Louise Smith murder trial: Live updates as Shane Mays set to give evidence

(what are legal representations when they're at home?)

 

[Harchmare]

Let us know if you need a hand @Harchmare.

Thanks @Legally Bland, I'm only able to post updates sporadically today so if you could help out a bit that'd be great!

 

[Legally Bland]

Thanks @Legally Bland, I'm only able to post updates sporadically today so if you could help out a bit that'd be great!

No problem.


11:53ALEX BOYD
CJ Mays' father called as a witness
Defence barrister Andrew Langdon QC has called David Mays as a witness.

The 55-year-old is the father of CJ Mays, who is Shane Mays' wife and Louise Smith's aunt.

He is now giving evidence. We will address him as David Mays in further entries so as not to confuse him with the defendant.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

12:07KEY EVENT
David Mays and his movements on May 8
David Mays tells the court that he would often go around to Ringwood House to help out his daughter, CJ, if she ever needed anything.

During the broad time of Louise's death, he was on furlough and remembers watching the VE Day celebrations on television.

He says that he abided by the lockdown restrictions as much as he could during the time they were in force.

His car was seen on CCTV outside Ringwood House on May 8. He was shown the CCTV by police when he gave a second statement to them in relation to the case.

The witness admits that he initially could not remember going out on May 8 as he remembers being at home watching the VE Day celebrations on television, among other things.

David Mays is asked about an allegation that he took cannabis around to Ringwood House on May 8 - he denies this, saying there was "no chance" that happened and that he doesn't "believe in the stuff".


12:07ALEX BOYD
David Mays evidence now finished
Both barristers have asked questions of David Mays, and he has now finished giving evidence.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Harchmare]

No problem.


11:53ALEX BOYD
CJ Mays' father called as a witness
Defence barrister Andrew Langdon QC has called David Mays as a witness.

The 55-year-old is the father of CJ Mays, who is Shane Mays' wife and Louise Smith's aunt.

He is now giving evidence. We will address him as David Mays in further entries so as not to confuse him with the defendant.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

Thanks Legally!

 

[Marg from Oz]

A belated grateful thanks to Legally Bland and Harchmare for your excellent coverage of the proceedings. It makes it all the more real following you two instead of snippets from msm. That is if you don't hit a paywall.
Again many thanks from Australia.

 

[Legally Bland]

12:10ALEX BOYD
Psychologist called as a witness
Mr Langdon QC has now called a psychologist as a witness, Dr Anne Beaton.

She was the one who assessed Shane Mays - the court has heard previously about the results of those tests that analysed his IQ and memory.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

The witness is talking about how she conducts the sort of tests she carried out on the defendant, and what they are designed to do.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

12:22ALEX BOYD
'Quite difficult' to skew results of the psychological tests
Mr Langdon QC references that Mr Mays was described as "no fool" during cross-examination on Thursday (December 3).

The defence barrister asks the psychologist whether it is possible for people to deliberately skew results of the various tests they have carried out on them, to make them seem less able than they are.

She says that is quite difficult to do.

She replied in part: "It is quite difficult to really predict how the tests are going to be stored and what results we can get."

There are a number of ways from which results can be formed.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

12:35ALEX BOYD
Prosecutor now asking questions
Prosecutor James Newton-Price QC is now asking questions of the witness, asking more about what a test result says about a person's ability to live an every day life.

He asks whether, despite low-scoring, it is fair to say that someone is still able to live a reasonably normal life and is not prevented from performing some every days tasks.

The prosecutor notes that Mr Mays has formed a relationship, even got married, and has a number of other friendships.

Dr Beaton says that there ability to perform certain tasks depends on a number of factors, including support, but agrees that those who score low are not prevented from living a reasonably normal life.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

12:42ALEX BOYD
Witness now released
Dr Beaton has been released as a witness.

Updates as defence case in Louise Smith murder trial continues

 

[Legally Bland]

12:43KEY EVENT
Proceedings have now ended for the day
Following those two witnesses, the court hears that that will be all for today.

Proceedings will get back under way on Monday (December 7).

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

 

[Skigh]

Well,that was a bit disappointing!

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Thanks Legally and Harch for the updates.

 

[Sooty]

Thank you for updates!

does anyone think CJ will be a witness?

I would be interested to hear more about the household dynamic and what, in her words, happened the night before, the morning of the murder and the hours and days following the murder. Surely her witness statements are paramount to the case? (I may be missing something, forgive me if I am!)

 

[HollyHunter9]

Thank you for updates!

does anyone think CJ will be a witness?

I would be interested to hear more about the household dynamic and what, in her words, happened the night before, the morning of the murder and the hours and days following the murder. Surely her witness statements are paramount to the case? (I may be missing something, forgive me if I am!)

I would hope she is, it would interesting to hear her perspective and side of the story.

 

[Skigh]

Could CJ still be charged with perverting the course of justice at a later date,even after a verdict is reached for SM?

 

[Harchmare]

I would hope she is, it would interesting to hear her perspective and side of the story.

I think it would be interesting too, but somehow I don't think she will... MOO