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

[Legally Bland]

13:08KEY EVENT
Break for lunch
There is now going to be a one hour lunch break.

Updates will continue from 2pm.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins

 

[chimpface]

Who was providing the alcohol for her? Shane?

Had he been getting her drunk and sexually abusing her?

"unsettled"

"called a mental health help line"

 

[Alyce]

خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

I recall this thicket to the north of Swanmore Road being heavily featured in the search, have I misremembered?

eta Sorry I can’t seem to link to it properly. It is just to the north of Swanmore Road and has a path and big clearing in the middle of it


Dropped pin
Near Havant
Google Maps

Yes that's it - SM would have come out of the Thicket and onto Swanmore ( and Stratfield Gardens ) before heading south back to his home in Somborne Drive.

 

[Stumpyaura]

Shane didn't take his phone out with him all day, does this point to a premeditated act? It is very unusual for anyone to go out without a phone. I'm sure the timing is highly significant-the fact that she was on the verge of moving out and was telling people that she was having difficulties living with them, the calls to mental health lines. Was he worried what would come out or raging at a rejection?

 

[chimpface]

Shane didn't take his phone out with him all day, does this point to a premeditated act? It is very unusual for anyone to go out without a phone. I'm sure the timing is highly significant-the fact that she was on the verge of moving out and was telling people that she was having difficulties living with them, the calls to mental health lines. Was he worried what would come out or raging at a rejection?

The more we hear the more I feel like what happened on the 8th May was a culmination of something sinister that had already happened previously.

 

[Stumpyaura]

I am still amazed that this all took place in Havant Thicket around that time. I live locally and although it is a large area, it was so busy and used around that time by walkers/runners/cyclists. Because of lockdown people weren't driving for exercise even, the village I live in were using it more and obviously Leigh Park on the other side has several access points. The thought that he could carry out a murder, brutal disfigurement and setting of a fire is unbelievable. This isn't remote woodland. The thing that wouldn't draw attention to it is that the area is well known for kids to have fires and there used to be a lot of burnt out vehicles/mopeds in there.

 

[Deppy]

I am still amazed that this all took place in Havant Thicket around that time. I live locally and although it is a large area, it was so busy and used around that time by walkers/runners/cyclists. Because of lockdown people weren't driving for exercise even, the village I live in were using it more and obviously Leigh Park on the other side has several access points. The thought that he could carry out a murder, brutal disfigurement and setting of a fire is unbelievable. This isn't remote woodland. The thing that wouldn't draw attention to it is that the area is well known for kids to have fires and there used to be a lot of burnt out vehicles/mopeds in there.

Stumpy I have to agree this doesn’t make sense! The area was so busy due to lockdown and people out on their daily exercise that I just don’t see how this has happened in broad daylight! I suspect the fire was set some time later because 4 days (I think) before she was officially found, Hampshire Fire & Rescue sent out a tweet saying they had reports of a fire being set in the thicket! That was quickly removed and then the police told the family the following day to stay away from the area and to NOT search that area! I know so many teenagers who use the Thicket, how have neither of them been spotted or the actual event been interrupted!! So strange

 

[Alyce]

12 noon
Cjay says Louise and SM had left the house ( Ringwood/Somborne Drive ) at this time.
But phone evidence says Louise was still in the vicinity of Somborne Drive at 12.49pm.

Departure towards the Thicket after this time. About 30 minute walk ?

3.11 pm - SM is caught on CCTV - quote from msm link -
He was seen on CCTV in Swanmore Road leaving Havant Thicket before he walked to his mother’s home in Stratfield Gardens where he was 'sweaty' and ‘thirsty’.

6.32pm
Louise was reported missing by Cjay.



Have now edited as timing of 3.11pm has been given for SM on cctv on Swanmore Road.
Therefore, timings at the Thicket with Louise would be 1.30pm to 3pm approx before SM goes to mother's house.

 

[Stumpyaura]

Stumpy I have to agree this doesn’t make sense! The area was so busy due to lockdown and people out on their daily exercise that I just don’t see how this has happened in broad daylight! I suspect the fire was set some time later because 4 days (I think) before she was officially found, Hampshire Fire & Rescue sent out a tweet saying they had reports of a fire being set in the thicket! That was quickly removed and then the police told the family the following day to stay away from the area and to NOT search that area! I know so many teenagers who use the Thicket, how have neither of them been spotted or the actual event been interrupted!! So strange

Maybe he knew somewhere that was relatively private-I suppose local would know the spots yu go and hang out and smoke weed/drink with mates without being disturbed. I think that Louise was just so unlucky that no one was near that day to disturb the attack. I know when the police asked for runners and walkers to check their Strava information around that time that several of my friends ran right by the area where Louise was found. He must have just hidden her until her was able to go back in the following days. Although the court is reporting learning disabilities today, he was able to avoid most CCTVs by the route he took (I know it said there weren't many), didn't have a phone to link him to the area on the day - will be interesting to see how many other premeditated actions he shows as having done.

 

[Bogyo13]

Thanks for the updates!

Was CJ at work then or working from home? I don't know what her job title is if she is working?
Did he lure her there to smoke a joint? MOO

Sounds absolutely terrible, poor Louise.

 

[Legally Bland]

Thanks for the updates!

Was CJ at work then or working from home? I don't know what her job title is if she is working?
Did he lure her there to smoke a joint? MOO

Sounds absolutely terrible, poor Louise.

Her phone was at home if that's any help:

13:07...

The prosecutor said that CJ Mays' phone remained in the Ringwood House area all day.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins

 

[Skigh]

Thanks for the updates!

Was CJ at work then or working from home? I don't know what her job title is if she is working?
Did he lure her there to smoke a joint? MOO

Sounds absolutely terrible, poor Louise.

I think CJ is disabled so does not work. The 8th was also a bank holiday.

 

[Legally Bland]

32 seconds ago
We’re back...
The court is now back in session for the afternoon.

 

[Bogyo13]

I think CJ is disabled so does not work. The 8th was also a bank holiday.

Indeed it was, forgot about the bank holiday,thanks!

 

[Bogyo13]

Her phone was at home if that's any help:

13:07...

The prosecutor said that CJ Mays' phone remained in the Ringwood House area all day.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins

Thank you, thought it was only his phone at home!

 

[Legally Bland]

14:07ALEX BOYD
Louise's boyfriend told that Shane and Louise had left Ringwood House
Just before 3pm on May 8, Louise's boyfriend, Bradley, arrived at Ringwood House to meet Louise and was told by CJ Mays that the teenager and Shane Mays had left at around 12pm.

No one had heard from Louise for around two hours.

Her phone was not picked up by a mast between 1pm and 3pm.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins

 

[Legally Bland]

CJ made a number of unanswered calls to Louise's phone after 3pm.

Mr Newton-Price QC described them as "Where are you?" calls.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins

 

[Legally Bland]

15 seconds ago
When Louise went missing...
Louise had arranged to meet a friend at 3pm on May 8 - the day she went missing. The friend went to Ringwood House where Mays lived, but Louise was not there. She had left with the defendant at midday, CJ Mays told them.

Since then, the prosecution says, nobody heard from her. Newton-Price QC told the court that CJ Mays tried to call her but received no answer.

 

[Dre]

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins
OH MY GOD
I am just so upset by reading all of this, I think he likely raped her the 7th (night she was so intoxicated and and passed out) as she texted friends hungover the next day to come be with her and her boyfriend came over etc.
The fact that Cjay called her 51 times tells me that she knew something was going on and was trying to keep control over Louise to try to fix the situation or come up with some kind of cover for her husband.
How was Shane able to talk her into meeting him at the Thicket?

Spoiler: Warning: graphic

They found her burnt and "unrecognizable" body 2 weeks later and were still able to detect the fact that her body had been "penetrated in a terrible way" its just so sickening and I can't even wrap my head around how many lives Shane has ruined and altered because of his deviant and brutal sexual impulses.

How does he think that pleading guilty to manslaughter and not murder is going to work out with all of this evidence?
I'd be interested (and repulsed) to see any texts between Shane and Cjay. Wonder what the boyfriend will say about their group discussion when Louise was looking for support from others. Sigh, so so tragic and disgusting.
MOO

 

[Legally Bland]

14:13ALEX BOYD
Shane Mays 'knew the area well'
The prosecutor tells the jury that Shane Mays knew Havant and Havant Thicket well, having grown up in Leigh Park.

He was seen on CCTV at 3.11pm taking a route that came directly from Havant Thicket, out to Swanmore Road, Mr Newton-Price QC said.

The CCTV image is "fleeting", but "undoubtedly" Mr Mays, he added.

Live updates from court as Louise Smith murder trial begins