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

[Alyce]

Good morning. The trial is due to resume at Winchester Crown Court today after 10.30am. We'll be providing updates throughout the day.


10.26am
I'm afraid we've hit a bit of a stumbling block here - the defendant isn't in the dock
The jury are going to be brought back in shortly and I'll update when I know what's happening.

10.31am
Jurors are in the court. They've been told that the defendant is receiving medical treatment and it would be unfair to carry on without him.
They will be told by 1pm if the trial will resume this afternoon or not.

LIVE: Murder trial continues after the death of Southampton schoolgirl Lucy McHugh

 

[Alyce]

12:11pm
We've been called back into court - hoping to hear if Stephen Nicholson is fit to attend this afternoon

12:12pm
Prosecutors say there is no further information as to the nature of Nicholson's illness. Jurors will be sent home and asked to return tomorrow



LIVE: Murder trial continues after the death of Southampton schoolgirl Lucy McHugh

 

[HayLouise]

12:18pm

Well, today must have been a bit frustrating for those of you who have been following this trial, but as Mrs Justice May said this morning, it's not fair to go ahead without the defendant. Here are some stories from our previous coverage of the trial:

• Lucy McHugh murder trial halted
• Stephen Nicholson, 25, denies rape of Lucy McHugh as murder trial begins
• Lucy McHugh told Stephen Nicholson she was pregnant before her death, jury hears
• Jury visits scene where schoolgirl Lucy McHugh's body was found

LIVE: Murder trial continues after the death of Southampton schoolgirl Lucy McHugh

 

[chimpface]

Self harm?

 

[Alyce]

Well, it's listed for today


The Crown Court
at Winchester
Daily List for Tuesday 25 June 2019 at THE LAW COURTS,WINCHESTER

Court 2
- sitting at 10:30 am


THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE MAY DBE

Trial (Part Heard)

T20187146
********* ******* *

***********

Order made under s45, YJCEA 1999

 

[Alyce]

Winchester 2 T20187146

stephen paul nicholson

Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:28

Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:30 - 10:31


Winchester Crown Court Listings, hearings, cases, records & details

 

[Legally Bland]

THE trial of a man accused of the murder of schoolgirl Lucy McHugh has been adjourned for a second day after the defendant fell ill.

Lucy McHugh murder trial adjourned for second day after Stephen Nicholson fell ill

 

[chimpface]

Hmmm.

 

[Elainera]

Mmmh. I'm trying to think of a condition/illness serious enough to keep him away from his trial for two days yet not forseeably so otherwise they wouldn't have asked everyone to come back in today. They thought he might be better today but he is not. He is young and unlikely to have any major illness, especially so sudden and up to now undetected. Maybe they got him on some meds yesterday but they're not working as expected. Just speculating here. Maybe the stress got to him. I developed tachycardia last year when I found myself in a highly stressful situation. Anxiety can have a debilitating effect on the body. Maybe something like that. We might not find out.

 

[Alyce]

Usual listing showing for 10.30am tomorrow, so must be expecting to proceed.

Not sure how many days they would accept a delay, before taking a decision re whether or not to carry on without him.

 

[LittleMystery]

Usual listing showing for 10.30am tomorrow, so must be expecting to proceed.

Not sure how many days they would accept a delay, before taking a decision re whether or not to carry on without him.

Is that an option? Carrying on without him? I was wondering this earlier what they would do, especially if it was mental health related.

 

[Alyce]

Is that an option? Carrying on without him? I was wondering this earlier what they would do, especially if it was mental health related.

Few years back now - Stephen Beadman, convicted of killing Kayleigh Haywood. He refused to attend the trial, no illness, just refused. They carried on without him and he only had to turn up for the verdict.
But, in this case, he was not ill and it was his choice, so I suppose slightly different circumstance.

Bill Billingham ( murdered Mylee Billingham ) - he had 3 days absence from his trial, due to * illness *
( attempted suicide ) and trial was adjourned during this time.

 

[HayLouise]

10:53am

There has been no evidence heard for the past two days (read more by clicking here) but proceedings have resumed this morning at Winchester Crown Court.

Reporter Michael Seymour will be bringing you updates on the hearing as it progresses.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

10:56am

The trial into the death of Southampton teenager Lucy McHugh has resumed today. Stephen Nicholson is back in the dock following two-days of adjournments.

Read: Lucy McHugh murder trial adjourned for second day after Stephen Nicholson fell ill >>>

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:00am

The jury has been read a number of statements so far, one from the dog walker who found Lucy McHugh’s body in woodland at Southampton Sports Centre last July.

There have also been statements from Hampshire police’s crime scene investigators, who were called to the woodland on the morning of July 26, 2018.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:08am

The statement of the dog walker was read to the jury at Winchester Crown Court by the junior prosecutor Dan Sawyer.

The court heard the walker left his home at around 7.10-7.15am on July 26 before heading to the woodland at Southampton Sports Centre.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:13am

He said he was walking "off-piste" when he saw the body.

The walker said in his statement the body “was led face down, almost in the recovery position”.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:16am

He said he “feared it was the worst-case scenario”.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:22am

The dog walker said in his statement that he “sort of panicked and thought… what do I do?” before calling 999.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes

 

[HayLouise]

11:28am

The jury was then read statements from crime scene investigators by Mr Sawyer.

They said there appeared to be blood around the neck/throat of the body.

LIVE: Stephen Nicholson in court as Lucy McHugh murder trial resumes