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

[Legally Bland]

11:25am

That ends Ms Crease's evidence.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Legally Bland]

I think, if I'm following correctly, she's referring to the bank letter he burned on the night Lucy was missing. Caught on neighbour's CCTV.

Then there was the letter they found in December when they were searching for RE's passport.

Yeah I think you're right.

 

[Tortoise]

I can't think who it was addressed to if it says do not show Mum and Richard, or how it got in RE's drawer.

 

[Legally Bland]

11:27am

The court will now be shown a video interview, given my a young witness - who cannot be named for legal reasons. Once the video is shown to the jury, the young witness will be called to answer questions.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Alyce]

Mr Newton-Price asks Ms Crease about the day of Lucy's disappearance (July 25). She said she helped Lucy's mother Stacey to search Lucy's room to try and find clues to her whereabouts. He refers her to the discovery of a bank letter, addressed to Nicholson, found in Lucy's room.

From previous evidence:
7.00 pm Ms Crease takes Richard out for a driving lesson
7.30pm we have been told there is now concern for Lucy at this time, because she has not returned home.
This concern must be from Stacey only at this point ( RE is out, so would not be aware that Lucy had not arrived home ).
8pm Richard and Ms Crease return
8pm Stacey goes out to search for Lucy

So the letter being found and being burnt must be later that evening , after Stacey returns

 

[Legally Bland]

11:38am

The jury hears from the witness that Lucy began telling her that she was dating a 23 or 24-year-old called "Stephen".


11:40am

The jury hears that the witness asked Lucy if she had done anything with him. [The witness] said Lucy told [me] that he had "taken her virginity". [The witness] said Lucy looked "really uncomfortable" while telling [me].


11:41am

[The witness] said [they] informed [their] parents about it and the parent told Richard Elmes. But [the witness] said that Mr Elmes said "it was all lies" and that Lucy had a "fantasy going on".


11:44am

[The witness] said when Lucy told [me] about it again, [the witness] said that [they] was concerned because he was older than her. [The witness] said Lucy replied: "Yeah, but he loves me."


11:47am

During the video, the witness said: "In the beginning, I didn't believe her, because when someone is telling you they are dating a 24-year-old you don't believe them. The more she was talking about it the more I kept believing it."


11:51am

The jury hears the witness say that Lucy told her "things were getting worse". [The witness] said Lucy told her "Stephen" was getting "more violent with her" and was slapping her. [The witness] said Lucy told [me] that his drinking and drug-taking was getting worse.


11:52am

[The witness] said on one occasion, Lucy told [me] that "Stephen" had got "really drunk and really high" and had tried to get into her room. [The witness] said that Lucy told her she had put her bed against the door to stop him getting in.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Legally Bland]

11:54am

The court hears the witness say told Lucy to tell her mother about it, but the witness said Lucy told her that her mother would tell her to "shut up" and that she needed to "get out of her fantasy land because it was going to get someone in trouble".

LIVE: 'Lucy told to stop living in 'fantasy land' over relationship with alleged killer', court hears

 

[Legally Bland]

11:56am

The witness said was "trying to protect Lucy from everything" and that was "scared something was going to happen". [The witness] said told Lucy to go stay with her grandparents.
LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Alyce]

From RE evidence
Mr Mousley asks if he knew if Lucy was sexually active. Mr Elmes replies, "no".


From the young witness evidence today
The witness asked Lucy if she had done anything with him. [The witness] said Lucy told [me] that he had "taken her virginity".
[The witness] said informed her parents about it and the parent told Richard Elmes. But [the witness] said that Mr Elmes said "it was all lies" and that Lucy had a "fantasy going on".

 

[Legally Bland]

12:00pm

[The witness] said Lucy had told her that her mother was "flinging her about" and "locking her in her room". The witness says [they] was asked to slap Lucy. [The witness] said: "I wouldn't lay a hand on her. I wouldn't do it. I refused to do it."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Alyce]

From RE evidence yesterday
Asked if Nicholson had shown kindness towards Lucy that week.
Mr Elmes said: "Yes, he had offered to sort out her bedroom door."


From young witness evidence today
[The witness] said on one occasion, Lucy told [me] that "Stephen" had got "really drunk and really high" and had tried to get into her room. [The witness] said that Lucy told [me] she had put her bed against the door to stop him getting in.

 

[Alyce]

[The witness] said Lucy had told [me] that her mother was "flinging her about" and "locking her in her room". The witness says was asked to slap Lucy. [The witness] said: "I wouldn't lay a hand on her. I wouldn't do it. I refused to do it.

I wonder who asked her ?

 

[Legally Bland]

12:06pm

[The witness] said Lucy replied that she didn't want her to tell anyone as it "would just get her in trouble".

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Legally Bland]

12:08pm

The video interview is now finished. The court will take a short break before the witness is questioned.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues today

 

[Joolz1975]

Thanks again for the updates really appreciate it.

More I read the more disgusted I am.

 

[Legally Bland]

Is it even possible for Stacey to be tracking Lucy's messages if she was using SnapChat as the school said she was?

This isn't too clear for me. You can't monitor what is being posted, but it suggests sitting down with your child and limiting contacts to people you trust.

I'd say SW probably couldn't track Lucy's snapchat usage based on this:

How do I monitor Snapchat and use the settings?
The biggest challenge for parents is that there's no way to see your kid's activity in the app in the same way as on other social media platforms. Since there's no feed to scroll, there's not much to monitor. Instead, focus on the privacy settings. If you decide to say yes to Snapchat, sit down with your kid and together go into the app's settings (the little gear icon next to your profile image). Scroll down to "Who Can..." This is where you can control important safety features such as who can see your location and who can view your story. This is a perfect time to talk to your kid about using their Snapchat account safely and responsibly. Discuss when and how often you'll check in on how they're using it and how they're feeling about it. Explain that you understand that social media is important to them, and, at the same time, your role is to protect them. Don't forget to ask your teen to show you some of their snaps and some of the cool features they like in the app. That'll make it a little less scary for you -- and send the message that you're on the same team.

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Snapchat

 

[Legally Bland]

12:28pm

The witness is in the box. The witness will be questioned by Nicholson's defence barrister, James Newton-Price QC.

LIVE: 'Lucy told to stop living in 'fantasy land' over relationship with alleged killer', court hears

 

[Legally Bland]

12:31pm

Mr Newton-Price asks the witness about Lucy telling the witness about her dating a man named "Stephen" and claiming that she had "taken her virginity". He asks if Lucy told "lots of other girls". The witness says "Yes, after telling me."

LIVE: 'Lucy told to stop living in 'fantasy land' over relationship with alleged killer', court hears

 

[Legally Bland]

12:37pm

Mr Newton-Price is checking parts of the witnesses' statement, made to the police, with the witness.

LIVE: 'Lucy told to stop living in 'fantasy land' over relationship with alleged killer', court hears

 

[Legally Bland]

12:41pm

He asks if Lucy said when and where these incidents were taking place. The witness replies "no".

LIVE: 'Lucy told to stop living in 'fantasy land' over relationship with alleged killer', court hears