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

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11:40am

Mr Newton-Price now says that Nicholson was "not the only one" who had become "cross" with Lucy. He refers the jury to text messages from Lucy's mother's partner Richard Elmes, read out earlier in the case, in which he had expressed his unhappiness at Lucy's behaviour.

11:40am

He adds: "The picture is not quite as black and white as presented by the prosecution."

11:41am

The court now takes a short break. Mr Newton-Price will continue his closing speech after the break. He will talk about the allegation of Lucy's murder.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

11:49am

The court returns. Mr Newton-Price is on his feet, ready to finish his closing speech.

11:50am

He begins by talking about July 24 - the day before Lucy disappeared.

11:53am

He talks about the prosecution's suggestion that Nicholson had planned an "execution-style killing" the day before.

11:54am

Mr Newton-Price questions why, if that was the case, that Nicholson had ordered his new trainers for delivery between 9 and 11 am on the morning of July 25.

11:55am

Mr Newton-Price said: "We the defence challenge the theories of what happened that day. We challenge the notion that certain things happen at certain times."

11:56am

He adds: "No one knows when the items were dumped at Tanner's Brook, because they were found five weeks later. No one knows who dumped them there, or when."

11:57am

Mr Newton-Price now refers to yesterday's evidence, in which two people claimed to have seen Lucy later in the day than the prosecution suggest the teenager had died.

11:58am

He described them as "independent and reasonable" witnesses and one as "just trying to do her best to help".

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:02pm

Mr Newton-Price refers to expert evidence, which suggested that Lucy could have died between 8.30am and 8.30pm on July 25.


12:02pm

He said that if her death was after 11am it "could not be Nicholson", because his movements were "comprehensively tracked" after 11am.

12:05pm

Mr Newton-Price said: "There is a danger in this case, we submit, that the prosecution is trying to make facts fit their theory of what happened that day."

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LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

I'd love to know what time those trainers were delivered and I'm amazed that there is no record. Perhaps it wasn't a signed for delivery.

 

[Tortoise]

12:08pm

He turns to the CCTV at Southampton Sports Centre, which shows a cyclist, which the prosecution say is Nicholson.

12:10pm

Mr Newton-Price denies that it was Nicholson. He said that a shadow appears to show the cyclist wearing a cap and he said that the cyclist's grey trainers appear to look different from Nicholson's grey trainers.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:14pm

Mr Newton-Price now talks about CCTV showing Nicholson cycling back from his friend's home near the Sports Centre.

12:16pm

He suggests that if Nicholson was carrying the "bulky" clothes found at Tanner's Brook in a Tesco bag that the bag would be appear to be more full.

12:17pm

He also casts doubt that Nicholson could be wearing the clothes under his Superdry jacket and jeans.

12:19pm

Mr Newton-Price now turns to the GPS evidence. He tells the jury: "The only thing one can safely say is that it shows Nicholson travelling through Tanner's Brook."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:14pm

Mr Newton-Price now talks about CCTV showing Nicholson cycling back from his friend's home near the Sports Centre.

I find this confusing - cycling back to where?

 

[Tortoise]

12:21pm

Mr Newton-Price says the evidence shows Nicholson was in that location for three minutes and 55 seconds. He said: "Is that long enough to do everything the prosecution contends that he did?"

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Legally Bland]

I'd love to know what time those trainers were delivered and I'm amazed that there is no record. Perhaps it wasn't a signed for delivery.

I'd be surprised if all courier firms don't have some sort of vehicle tracking nowadays. Then there's the courier's phone. Even a satnav can be used to get location data if it's being used.

 

[Elainera]

I'll be surprised if the jury returns a guilty verdict.

 

[Tortoise]

12:24pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "It's a lot to do in three minutes and 55 seconds. It's very tight timing to get there, find a place, get through the vegetation, take off clothes, burn his pants, hide other stuff, all without smearing blood on any other item."

12:26pm

Mr Newton-Price said: "We say the prosecution theory falters at this point."

12:26pm

He now turns to the bonfire that Nicholson had on the day Lucy disappeared, in which he burnt his shoes.

12:27pm

Mr Newton-Price tells the jury that it was "no secret" and that Nicholson was "as open as he could be" about it.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

I don't remember hearing testimony from the neighbour who said that he asked for his bonfire note back.

 

[Tortoise]

12:32pm

Addressing the DNA evidence he said Nicholson had previously told the jury he did not know how the bag of blood-covered clothing, which had DNA linked to Lucy and Nicholson, got to Tanner's Brook.

12:32pm

He adds: "It is not for him to explain it. It's for the prosecution to prove the case so you are sure."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:38pm

Mr Newton-Price puts forward a hypothetical situation in which Lucy's mother's partner Richard Elmes was accused of murder. (Mr Elmes is not charged with any allegations.) He tells the jury that in that hypothetical situation, the prosecution could "twist" the finding of his DNA on Lucy's body and her clothing.

12:39pm

He adds: "You see, it is very easy to put a spin on evidence and use DNA evidence in a certain way.

"The point I am making is you need to be careful about making final conclusions from DNA evidence."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:42pm

He said there was no DNA evidence found at Nicholson's friend's house, near to the Sports Centre.

12:43pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "There is an absence of DNA findings where you might expect to find them."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

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12:45pm

Mr Newton-Price now addresses "rumours" circulating after Lucy's disappearance, including one in which Nicholson was reportedly told that a man on a bike was seen arguing with Lucy on the day she disappeared.

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Alyce]

this from Ms Lawrence, the care home manager. During SNs return to work interview on July 26.

She tells the court that during the interview, Nicholson mentioned about a man with tattoos on a bike having been seen arguing with Lucy on the day she disappeared. She said this was "odd" because it hadn't been mentioned, including by Stacey.


So RE tells SN about this report of a man seen arguing with Lucy and RE tells SN that Stacey * might * be going to report this information to the police. But it seems Stacey has not mentioned this very important information to anyone else, including the Care Home Manager of the place where SN works ?

 

[Tortoise]

12:50pm

Mr Newton-Price said: "There was ample scope for pieces of information, many incorrect, to swirl around."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Tortoise]

12:52pm

He now addresses Nicholson's refusal to give police access to his Facebook account and his decision to swatch over his phone. Nicholson previously told a court it was because of his drug-dealing activities.

12:54pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "A guilty man might throw his phone away, you might think. He didn't, he gave it to his mother and it was eventually found."

LIVE: Lucy McHugh murder trial: Defence to make closing speech today

 

[Alyce]

I'd love to know what time those trainers were delivered and I'm amazed that there is no record. Perhaps it wasn't a signed for delivery.

Just found it - evidence from June 27

The court is told about data showing a delivery of trainers to Nicholson's friend's address on July 25. The delivery is signed for.