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

[Tortoise]

12:56pm

Mr Newton-Price now talks about internet searches made by Richard Elmes on the day Lucy disappeared. He also describes Mr Elmes' decision to burn a bank letter belonging to Nicholson on that day as "extraordinary behaviour". The court previously heard Mr Elmes would commonly burn important letters.

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

 

[Tortoise]

12:58pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "Maybe you are not getting the whole picture here. There are pieces of the jigsaw from the prosecution that do not fit into the picture painted by the prosecution."

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

 

[Tortoise]

12:59pm

He adds: "Remember, it is for the prosecution to prove their case."

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

 

[Tortoise]

12:58pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "Maybe you are not getting the whole picture here. There are pieces of the jigsaw from the prosecution that do not fit into the picture painted by the prosecution."

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

Yes I think this might have been the letter that (can't remember her name) lied to police about.

 

[Tortoise]

1:02pm

He said: "What if you think it is probable that he is guilty. Well you cannot be sure and it would be your duty to find him not guilty."

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

 

[Tortoise]

1:03pm

He adds: "If you are sure that the evidence is reliable and credible and other possibilities can be safely excluded, only then can you say he is guilty."

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

 

[Tortoise]

1:06pm

Mr Newton-Price adds: "We say when you look at all the evidence in this case in a dispassionate and even-handed way... then you may come to the view that the prosecution has failed to meet that standard."

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

 

[Tortoise]

1:07pm

That concludes Mr Newton-Price's closing speech. The court will now break for lunch. After that, the judge will summarise the evidence before the jury is sent out to begin their deliberations.

1:07pm

The court is set to return at 2.30pm.

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

 

[LittleMystery]

Thanks for updates yesterday and today @Alyce and @Tortoise.

 

[Tortoise]

How would you all feel if he's found not guilty?

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I have a bad feeling about this. As predicted, shade was thrown towards RE. Beyond all reasonable doubt? Not sure I'd want to be on that jury honestly

 

[Alyce]

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

found this from evidence

Mr Newton-Price now asks about the bonfire. He asks about searches on Nicholson's phone about bonfires and rules about them on that day.
Nicholson tells the court when he previously held a bonfire a neighbour had "kicked-off" and he wanted to make sure this bonfire was "all above board".

Nicholson confirms he took a note around to a neighbour warning them about the bonfire.
He said: "I didn't want to cause any tension or upset with the neighbours."

Stephen Nicholson is in the dock. The court hears a short statement from one of Nicholson's neighbours about the note he left for them on the day of July 25 last year - the day Lucy disappeared.
As previously reported, the note stated Nicholson was planning to have a bonfire, which took place later that day. Nicholson later returned to retrieve the note, but it had been thrown in the bin

 

[Alyce]

10:50am

Speaking about the letters found in Lucy's parent's room, he said: "I find it extraordinary that Richard Elmes denies knowledge or seeing any notes of this kind when these were found in a bedside cabinet in his room."

10:51am

Mr Newton-Price tells the jury the allegations of rape by Nicholson against Lucy "stand or fall on whether you are sure what's said in these letters is true".

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

Me too - particularly as we were told this letter was found in a lighter pot ? that had not been opened for 4 years

 

[Alyce]

11:17am

Mr Newton-Price talks about claims made by a schoolfriend of Lucy that she had told her about a time a drunk and high Nicholson had tried to get into her room at night and she had barricaded herself in her room.

11:19am

He said there were "major problems with that story", including that it had taken place at night with other people in the house. He said the prosecution could see it as a "product Lucy's imagination".

11:20am

Mr Newton-Price said Lucy was "desperate for attention".

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

BIB ONE Very good point - would have made a fair amount of noise surely - Lucy trying to push her bed against her door and SN trying to break into the room - all while very young children were sleeping in an adjacent bedroom ?


BIB TWO True on so many levels - very sad

 

[Tortoise]

Me too - particularly as we were told this letter was found in a lighter pot ? that had not been opened for 4 years

And rather extraordinary that he would worry about burning the bank letter when Lucy is missing. If it was burned it's only their word what it was he burned, and why would friend not tell police about that?

 

[Alyce]

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

As I recall, police took the carpet up there, so they have been very thorough in checking this

 

[Alyce]

How would you all feel if he's found not guilty?

Unless there is a huge amount of additional evidence that we have not heard ( quite possible as reporting has been limited - not blaming the reporter, it's just how it is ) then I would go with not guilty if I were on that Jury.

Am not saying that I think SN is squeeky clean, I don't ..... but I don't feel the Prosecution has proven their case beyond reasonable doubt and it is feasible ( again from what we know ) to see how the guilt could point elsewhere.

 

[Alyce]

From earlier evidence

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.



So Lucy's bedroom had a lock on the door - would have been useful if SN was trying to get in ?

 

[Elainera]

Unless there is a huge amount of additional evidence that we have not heard ( quite possible as reporting has been limited - not blaming the reporter, it's just how it is ) then I would go with not guilty if I were on that Jury.

Am not saying that I think SN is squeeky clean, I don't ..... but I don't feel the Prosecution has proven their case beyond reasonable doubt and it is feasible ( again from what we know ) to see how the guilt could point elsewhere.

That's where I stand too atm. The prosecution's case is circumstantial, and weak in parts.

I don't recall, was there foreign dna on Lucy's body?

 

[Tortoise]

I don't remember hearing about any DNA found on her body.