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

[Alyce]

As has been said, it would be so useful to know how he is coming across in court. From the very limited information we are getting today, he sounds to me as though he is quite self assured. But it may be completely the opposite.

 

[Alyce]

2:03pm

Nicholson is back in the witness box as the trial is about to get under way.

Prosecutor William Mousley QC will continue to cross-examine him this afternoon.

 

[Alyce]

Mr Mousley questioned Nicholson about diary entries made by Lucy in which she described losing her virginity with him.
In it she describes an intimate piercing Nicholson had.

Nicholson says she might have overheard him talking about the piercing and previous sexual encounters.

He added: "I have never had a sexual relationship with Lucy."

Mr Mousley read out more diary entries in which Lucy described having sex with Nicholson.




LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

Mr Mousley then read a diary entry from July 2017 in which Lucy said she wrote Nicholson a note telling him "it was over".

Nicholson repeated that he never had a relationship or sex with Lucy

Mr Mousley then read notes which were allegedly written from Lucy to Nicholson, containing sexual content.

Nicholson said: "I never received any notes from Lucy."






LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Elainera]

Mr Mousley then read notes which were allegedly written from Lucy to Nicholson, containing sexual content.

Nicholson said: "I never received any notes from Lucy."

Hope they found his fingerprints on them!

 

[Alyce]

Wonder if these notes were the ones that were discovered hidden in the house, after Lucy died ?

 

[Alyce]

Hope they found his fingerprints on them!

I agree, that would be so useful to know

 

[Alyce]

Mr Mousley read a letter from Lucy in which she said: "I think I'm pregnant."

It goes on to ask Nicholson to get a test for her and some condoms.

Nicholson said: "I have never received any letters from Lucy, I have never had any sort of relationship with Lucy."




LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

The court is now being played footage of Nicholson cycling to a friend’s house on July 24, 2018, after he had left work ill.

Mr Mousley said there was nothing in the footage to suggest he was ill.

Nicholson said he was ill.




LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

Mr Mousley said there was nothing in the footage to suggest he was ill.


Who hasn't had to go out, drive a car, ride a bike, when feeling ill ?

He may have felt bad and then felt better later that day and decided to go out.

Or, is this footage of SN when he has just left the care home ? in which case he would obviously be cycling to his friend's house as he was staying there.

Not defending SN in any way, but I find this particular statement odd

 

[Alyce]

Mr Mousley asked Nicholson was he concerned by a message from Lucy on that evening in which she said she was going to tell her mum that she was made pregnant by him.

He said he "knew it was lies" and responded to Lucy something "along the lines of yeah whatever".





LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

3:26pm

Mr Mousley questioned Nicholson's actions on the morning of Lucy's death.

He said he was round a friend's house.

Mr Mousley asked if Nicholson deliberately left his phone at the house.

Nicholson said he was there with the phone.





LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

Going through phone data, Mr Mousley said Nicholson got a text at 9.29am, but he didn't reply until 10.50.

Mr Mousley suggests he wasn't with his phone and replied when he got back.

Nicholson said the signal in the house wasn't very good, and maintained he was in the house.



LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

3:33pm

The court is now taking a short break.

 

[Legally Bland]

Bit from the beeb:
________________

He said they had "not seen eye to eye" and often rowed in the house.

Asked by prosecutor William Mousley QC if his behaviour towards her had always been appropriate, Mr Nicholson said he believed swearing at her and "pushing her away from me was too much".

Mr Nicholson was asked to hold up an evidence bag containing a bloodstained blue hoodie which a forensic expert said was "highly likely" to contain both his and Lucy's DNA.

Jurors were told it was discovered alongside other clothing - including gloves, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts - that were found dumped at Tanner's Brook, near where Lucy's body was found.

Mr Nicholson denied he had ever worn the hoodie and said he "couldn't say" if he had seen it before.

Mr Mousley asked: "Is it just bad luck that these items can only be linked to you?"

The defendant responded: "Yeah. As you can see from the CCTV I was wearing different clothes that day."

Murder accused 'swore at and pushed girl'

 

[Alyce]

3:54pm

The trial has resumed. Mr Mousley is asking Nicholson about the days after Lucy's body was found (July 26).

 

[Alyce]

When asked about the day Lucy died, Nicholson said: ‘I wouldn't say it was a bad day, I didn't find out she died until the 26th.’

He added: ‘Looking back at it, it would be classed as a bad day, a child died.’

Mr Mousley asked him if he had compassion for Lucy, to which he replied: ‘I was upset for my friends and I thought it was wrong, no child should die.’

Nicholson added: ‘We didn't get along, I was upset for my friend, at the same time I do not feel any child should be killed, children are the next generation.’



Murder accused tells court he pushed and swore at Lucy McHugh as trial continues

 

[Alyce]

Nicholson said he took the SIM card out of his Samsung phone because he was worried about drugs information.

Mr Mousley asked him whether that was more important to him than the police investigation into Lucy's death.

Nicholson said it was more to look after his family.

Mr Mousley asked: "Did you try to conceal evidence from the police."

Nicholson responded: "Over drug dealing, yes."


LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today

 

[Alyce]

Wonder if he will get finished today - with this level of reporting we have no idea really !

No trial tomorrow

 

[Alyce]

4:14pm

The jury are now being shown the Samsung phone, which was described as smashed.




LIVE: Lucy McHugh trial - alleged killer to be cross-examined today