10:16am
The trial of Stephen Nicholson, 25, of no fixed address, continues today (Tuesday, July 9).
He is accused of murdering Southampton schoolgirl Lucy McHugh, whose body was found in a wooded area of Southampton Sports Centre in July last year. Nicholson denies murder.
He also denies two allegations of sexual activity with a child against Lucy on multiple occasions and denies sexual activity with a child in relation to another girl aged 14.
10:17am
The trial is set to continue this morning, with proceedings expected to get under way within the next 20 minutes or so.
10:19am
Yesterday, Winchester Crown Court heard DNA linked to ‘murdered’ schoolgirl Lucy McHugh and her alleged killer -Stephen Nicholson - was found on blood-stained clothing dumped beside a Southampton river.
It comes after Lucy’s body was found in a wooded area of Southampton Sports Centre on July 26, last year.
10:20am
You can read more on yesterday's events in the trial here:
‘DNA of Lucy McHugh and her alleged killer found on dumped clothes', trial hears >>>
10:28am
Members of the press and barristers are beginning to make their way into the Winchester court room, and the public gallery is filling up.
10:41am
Judge The Honourable Mrs Justice May DBE and the jury are now in court, and Nicholson is in the dock.
The first witness, a former partner of Nicholson, has been sworn in and is beginning to give evidence.
10:44am
While being questioned by prosecution barrister William Mousley QC, she told members of the jury Nicholson had an intimate piercing, which she described.
10:54am
Defence barrister James Newton-Price QC is now going over conversations between Nicholson and the witness in the week of Lucy’s death.
10:57am
The witness confirmed Nicholson told her about Lucy being found dead, saying he had the information from Lucy’s mum, Stacey White.
11:00am
She said Nicholson had been worried as a tattooed man on a bike had been seen with Lucy, and he had told her he was worried about his DNA being on Lucy's clothes as he used to wash them.
The witness added Nicholson had complained about Lucy's behaviour, telling her that Lucy would steal things from him.
11:04am
The next witness has been sworn in and is giving evidence.
She says she met Nicholson when she was looking to get a tattoo in June 2012.
11:07am
The witness says she was 14 at the time.
She then told the court she had had sex with Nicholson, also when she was 14, in a wooded area of Southampton Sports Centre.
11:09am
The witness said he messaged her asking if she wanted to meet up for sex.
She said she agreed.
11:17am
The witness said she got a taxi to an address where she met Nicholson. She thought they were going to have sex there, but a friend of Nicholson's turned up.
They then walked to the sports centre.
11:19am
She said: “I assumed we weren’t going to have sex anymore.
“He asked if I still wanted to have sex and I said no because we were outside, and I wasn’t comfortable with that.
“He kept persisting.”
11:20am
She added: “He said he could take me up to the wooded area.”
LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial continues