GUILTY UK - Madison Wright, 30, abandoned vehicle in Basildon, found deceased, Pitsea Essex, 22 July 2022 *Arrest*

[MsMiniSleuth]

The Crown Court at Basildon

Daily Courtroom List for Monday 13 March 2023

FINAL 1

BASILDON

Court 2 - sitting at 10:00 am

Her Honour Judge Leigh

NOT BEFORE 10:30 am

For Trial

T20227166 BENNETT Gary

COUNSEL TO ATTEND BASILDON CC.

DEFENDANT REQUIRED

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[StillDiggin]

‘Controlling’ man murdered partner who was about to leave him, court told

Gary Bennett is accused of killing Madison Wright, whose body was found in Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Essex, in July 2022.

www.malverngazette.co.uk

 

[JerseyGirl]

Pitsea murder trial: Madison Wright 'killed by controlling partner'

Jurors hear Madison Wright was about to end her relationship with 37-year-old Gary Bennett.

www.bbc.com

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A “controlling” man murdered his partner who was about to leave him then sent text messages to suggest she had gone away, a trial has heard.

The body of 30-year-old Madison Wright was found in Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Essex, on July 30 last year, eight days after she was last seen, Basildon Crown Court was told.

Gary Bennett, 37, of Caister Drive, Pitsea, has denied her murder, and wept in the secure dock as his trial began.

Tracy Ayling KC, opening the prosecution case on Tuesday, told jurors that Ms Wright was last seen on July 22 2022.

[...]

In text messages read to the court by the prosecutor, Ms Wright had told Bennett on the morning of July 22 “you’re too controlling”.

Ms Wright also told Bennett: “I’ve not been happy for ages – we’ve had lots of chances to try to make it work but I just don’t think it is.”

Ms Ayling said Bennett missed an NHS appointment at 11.10am that day.

She said the defendant later told police that Ms Wright arrived at his flat at around 11.20am and “was here for about 10 minutes at the most – throughout she said we needed time apart”.

[...]

Ms Ayling said that at 12.57pm on July 22 Ms Wright’s phone sent a message to her husband to say that “some stuff has come up at my place that I need to sort out, sorry”.

Ms Ayling said: “It’s the crown’s case that he (Bennett) himself was in possession of Madison’s phone and was setting this message up as a sort of alibi that she had gone somewhere and he was not responsible for her disappearance.

“It’s the crown’s case he (Bennett) had already killed her and was sending these text messages himself.”

Ms Ayling said Bennett had travelled to a pawnbroker’s shop in Grays and sold a necklace that Ms Wright was wearing that day for £310.

She said that the necklace was found to have Ms Wright’s DNA on but was missing its distinctive “M” which has not been found.

[...]

She said that at 11.42am on July 22 Ms Wright’s phone logged onto a banking app, using fingerprint recognition, and two amounts of money were sent to Bennett’s account – £550 and £400.

[...]

Ms Ayling said Bennett sent a message to Ms Wright’s phone on July 24 saying “talk to me Madison”.

The prosecutor said: “We say he had just buried her.”

The trial, due to last around three weeks, continues.

Man murdered Madison Wright and sent texts to suggest she'd gone away, court told

Gary Bennett, 37, murdered his partner who was about to leave him then sent text messages to suggest she had gone away, a trial has heard

www.echo-news.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

10:42

Day two set to begin​

Good morning all - Chief Reporter Ellis Whitehouse here once again in Basildon Crown Court as the prosecution’s opening of Gary Bennett’s trial continues. We’ve begun the morning’s session and updates will follow shortly.

10:55

Messages sent from Madison's husband​

The jury previously heard how Madison had been married to another man, but at the time of her disappearance they were separated and she had been in a relationship with Bennett, but they still were in contact.
Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, read out a text message from Madison’s husband on July 25 to Bennett, saying “no one has heard from her, police are involved now anyway”.
On July 26, further text messages were exchanged between the husband and Bennett, where he asked Bennett for specifics about what Madison had messaged him, with Bennett claiming Madison said she needed “time on her own”.
The prosecution has previously said it is their case Bennett sent messages from Madison’s phone and then he sent her a number of messages after he had killed her to create an alibi.

11:00

Police asked Bennett if he was worried​

The jury has heard that further messages were exchanged between Bennett and Madison’s husband where he asked Bennett if she had taken many belongings, her bag, or any money. Bennett said Madison “didn’t have much here”. Once that conversation was over, phone data shows Bennett went back onto the dating app Plenty of Fish.
Body-worn footage has also been shown from a police officer visiting Bennett’s home address on July 26 at 8.30pm where he was asked if he was worried. Bennett said “of course I am” and told police where he had allegedly gone to look for Madison.
Body-worn footage has also been shown from officers who discovered Madison’s vehicle in Brackendale Avenue. Tests indicated DNA from Madison and Bennett were found in the car, Ms Ayling said.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

11:10

Defendant cries as phone call played to the court​

A call Gary Bennett made to the police on July 27 has been played to the jury. It is difficult to make out exactly what he said, but he could be heard crying on the phone as he talked to the operator. While this was being played, Bennett began crying in the dock.
The jury heard after this call Bennett texted Madison’s husband asking if there was “any news”. Madison’s husband replied that her car had been found, to which Bennett said “ok”.

11:13

Statement Bennett gave to police​

Ms Ayling is now reading a statement which Bennett gave to the police about Madison’s disappearance. He claimed she came to his address for approximately ten minutes and told him they “needed some time apart” but he “did not consider that a breakup”.
He claimed she left the property between 11.15am and 11.30am but did not know if it was on foot or by car, but later noticed her car was still there.

11:20

Bennett's phone searched for crime news in the area​

Ms Ayling is going through more phone data from Bennett’s device, which showed that on July 28, he searched for crime news from the area online, and looked at an article about a man being charged in a separate murder investigation in Chelmsford.
The jury has also been told that Madison’s phone has never been recovered, despite it being activated in Pitsea in September 2022 and appeals being made to the public.

11:27

Defendant led out of room sobbing​

Gary Bennett has just broken down sobbing in the dock and has had to be led out of the room. The jury has just been shown pictures of the scene where Madison’s body was found.
Nothing gruesome was shown, but the jury saw the shrubbery and fence panelling that was covering the body.
Bennett can be heard retching in the back room. Judge Samantha Leigh has just instructed the jury to take a break and sent them to their room.

12:14

Madison's cause of death 'could not be determined'​

The jury has returned to the court room and the prosecution has finished their opening. Tracy Ayling KC finishes her prosecution opening by detailing the pathologist’s report into Madison’s body. Ms Ayling said due to how decomposed the body was, the cause of Madison’s death could not be determined.
The opening statement has now concluded and the trial is not sitting for the rest of the day due to the judge’s other commitments. We will resume at 10.15am tomorrow morning.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

10:33

Trial due to resume​

Good morning all, Chief Reporter Ellis Whitehouse once again reporting from the press bench at Basildon Crown Court.
The jury has just come into court and we will proceed with the evidence.

10:46

Madison's husband to give evidence​

The first witness to be called is Madison’s former husband, Erol Wright. They were separated at the time of her disappearance but had stayed in touch.
He is discussing how he knew Gary Bennett when the two of them previously worked at Wat Tyler Country Park, with Mr Wright being a chef, and Bennett being a groundskeeper.

10:50

Husband became closer with Madison in early 2022​

Mr Wright has been sharing his relationship with Madison, how for a while it was “happy and normal” but they had separated and she was in a relationship with Bennett. However, Mr Wright said in the early months of 2022 they had become closer again.
Mr Wright said he believed that Madison “was stopping seeing” Bennett in the months before her death.

10:59

The day Madison went missing​

Mr Wright has shared the events of July 22, 2022, the day Madison went missing. He said they had seen each other in the morning and she “seemed normal” before she went to work as a cleaner “as far as he was aware”.
They were due to see each other again at 2pm that day, but Mr Wright confirmed Madison had texted him at 12.57pm to say she “had some stuff to sort out” as something “had come up”. When asked by Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, Mr Wright said he did not know what those messages meant.

11:00

Husband tracked Madison's phone to 'outside Gary's house'​

By July 25, Mr Wright said he was “a little bit worried” about Madison and logged into Google find my phone to try and deduce where she could be. He said the phone appeared “outside Gary’s house”.
Ms Ayling said: “At that stage did you ask other people if they had seen Madison?” Mr Wright said: “Yeah, anyone I could think of.” Ms Ayling said: “Did you think to go looking for her?”
Mr Wright said he did, and visited Wat Tyler Country Park, and then her new flat, asking neighbours if they had seen anything, before visiting Bennett.

11:07

Madison's relationships​

Mr Wright confirmed he and Madison had divorced in April 2020 when Madison got into a relationship with Bennett. However, near the time of her disappearance he believed Madison and Bennett were nearly over. He said: “There wasn’t really a relationship anymore.”
Ms Ayling said: “What about your relationship [with her]?” Mr Wright said he believed they were "sort of on track" to be together again.
Ms Ayling asked: “What did you think about Madison leaving her phone at Gary’s house?” Mr Wright said: “It was unlike Mad.”

11:22

Madison 'never suggested' Bennett 'laid a finger on her'​

Mr Wright is now being cross examined by Bennett’s barrister, Christine Agnew KC. She has put to him that Madison “never suggested” that Bennett had “laid a finger on her”. Mr Wright confirmed that was correct.
Mr Wright also said that he and Madison had not been telling people about them growing closer together again in her final few months.

11:34

Mr Wright's attempts to locate Madison​

In her final few questions, Ms Agnew asks Mr Wright about his attempt to access her bank account in the days after she went missing. Mr Wright confirms that he did try to access her account in an attempt to trace where she was, but he couldn’t get into the account without her password.
Mr Wright also said he was never able to find Madison’s phone, but if he had, he said: “I would have contacted the police”.
His evidence has now concluded.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

11:59

Statement from Madison's mother​

We’re now hearing a statement from Madison’s mother, Louise Bailey. She has recounted Madison’s relationship with her former husband and then how she met Bennett. She had recalled how one time she went to see Madison in her flat to do her hair and Bennett “never left the room”.
Ms Bailey also recalled one day in 2022 when Bennett came around to her home address in order to “get Madison to answer him”. Ms Bailey said she locked the door and told Madison Bennett was outside, and Madison then called him and went out to speak to him.
Ms Bailey said on July 22, she saw Madison for the last time in the morning. She had then later sent messages asking her about her hamster, and informed her that her grandmother was in hospital. When she didn’t get a reply, she sent texts asking if she was getting the WhatsApp messages. She said: “I didn’t receive a reply to these messages”.

12:01

'I am devastated at what happened to Mad'​

Madison’s brother Jack Bailey is also having his statement read out in court. He said Madison was his older sister by two years and that she was a “good sister”. He said following Madison going missing he and Mr Wright had gone to Bennett’s address to ask him about where Madison could be.
Mr Bailey said Bennett claimed he saw her last on July 22 where she was home for five minutes after work and said “not to contact her”. Mr Bailey said: “After the conversation, Bennett just shut the door and didn’t try to continue the conversation. When speaking to us he didn’t open the door wide, only about 80 to 90cm.”
Mr Bailey added: “I am devastated at what happened to Mad, and my parents are in bits. It’s a weird and horrible feeling and it doesn’t feel like it’s real life.”

12:18

Defendant said 'I really love her and wouldn’t do anything to hurt her'​

A statement from Lisa Bailey, Madison’s aunt, has now been read. She shared how in the days after Madison went missing, she and other family members went to Bennett’s home where he continued to say that the last time he had seen her was on July 22 when she said “not to contact” her.
Ms Bailey said Bennett showed them a text message he had sent her - a message the prosecution has claimed is him “creating an alibi” - asking where she was. Ms Bailey continued: “Gary said ‘I really love her and wouldn’t do anything to hurt her’. He then said as he inhaled his vape ‘look, I have even started smoking again’.

12:29

Court taking short break​

Ms Bailey said the family were at Bennett’s address for 30 minutes before leaving.
Her statement has concluded and the court will be taking a short break.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

12:48

999 call made to police​

The court is back in session now and we’re listening to the 999 call Madison's ex-husband Erol Wright made when he reported Madison missing.
He details when he last saw her, and the messages she allegedly sent to him about “having stuff to sort out” and then her not responding since. He mentioned that “that’s all she said” and Madison “has not been spotted anywhere” also stating her phone was turned off.

12:58

What Madison was last seen wearing​

Mr Wright told the police operator that Madison was last seen wearing flip flops and black trousers. He was asked by the operator if he believed Madison had access to any money.
Mr Wright said: “I thought she did but we found a bag with her purse in it. So we’re not sure, highly unlikely.” Mr Wright also said he was not aware that Madison lived with any mental health conditions.

14:20

Hearing from Bennett's neighbour​

We’re back in session now and hearing from one of Gary Bennett’s neighbours who lived next to him for around 16 to 17 years.
She told the jury she was familiar with Madison Wright as someone who would come and go from Bennett’s home, and said she “never heard them row."

14:27

Neighbour woken by car sounds​

The neighbour has discussed the night where she was awoken by the sound of a car moving near her home. Ms McGee said she heard a loud noise “right outside of her window” which sounded like “scraping metal”.
The jury had previously heard that one night in the week between Madison going missing and her body being found, Madison’s car had been moved from in front of Bennett’s home in Caister Drive, allegedly by Bennet himself.
Ms McGee said she was woken between 1 and 3am on the night in question and it sounded like “a car being stalled but louder”.

14:45

Another neighbour heard car 'kangarooing'​

Another neighbour is giving evidence now who claims on the same night he was woken up by the sound of a car “kangarooing”. He said: “It was kangarooing, like it was jumping. I got up out of my bed, looked through the blinds and it was Madison’s car.”
Tracy Ayling KC asked how he knew it was Madison’s car. Mr Jackson said: “Because I always see that, it was there constantly, all the time. It had reversed up to the main entrance to next door’s.”

14:54

Car would always be parked in the same place​

The neighbour said he did not see the car reversing, but claimed it would always be parked in the same place outside Bennett’s home, and he heard it moving before looking out of the window.
He said after seeing it, he went to the toilet and then back to bed before getting up at around 5am to go to work. He told the court he couldn’t remember the specific date in July that he heard the car overnight.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

15:17

Police analyst explaining timeline of events​

Criminal intelligence analyst Richard Donaghy, of Essex Police, is now giving evidence about the timeline of the events surrounding Madison’s disappearance and her discovery.
He has confirmed the images on a screen are that of Madison’s car, with an example image of a Google Pixel 4A. He tells the jury again the police has not recovered Madison’s phone but they have “been able to obtain data from the network, but not the physical phone”.

15:32

Evidence concludes for this week​

Mr Donaghy's evidence has been paused for now, and the evidence for this week has concluded. The trial will resume at 10am on Monday morning as the case is not sitting tomorrow.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[JerseyGirl]

Here's everything heard in first week of Madison Wright murder trial in court

The murder trial into the killing of Basildon's Madison Wright started on Tuesday.

www.echo-news.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

An Essex woman who was allegedly murdered had her body dragged into a country park before being covered by fence panels broken off from nearby, a jury heard today. The trial of Gary Bennett continued at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday (March 22) with a forensic anthropologist giving evidence.

[...]

Giving evidence on Thursday, Dr Julia Roberts, a forensic anthropologist, shared how she had investigated the scene where Ms Wright was found and the condition of her body. The jury heard how Ms Wright was found still wearing a silver charm bracelet on one hand, and several friendship bracelets.

Dr Roberts went into more detail about the fence panels and shrubbery that were covering Ms Wright, and her analysis of the scene as to how her body may have gotten there. She was asked by prosecuting barrister Tracy Ayling KC about her conclusions on how the body was concealed.

She said: "In my opinion, there was a deliberate attempt to conceal the remains of Madison, there were several types of material deposits on her body in order to try and hide it. I concluded that [the fence panels] were probably derived from the broken fencing alongside the body."

[...]

Madison Wright's body 'was dragged into park' by killer, police say

The 30-year-old's body was found covered by shrubbery and fence panels which were broken off from nearby, a jury was told

www.essexlive.news

[Note: date is given as Thursday March 22 which is an error, and should read Wednesday 22]

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Closing speeches from the defence and prosecution legal teams are set to begin today in the trial of a man accused of murdering his girlfriend. Madison Wright's body was found in an Essex park following her disappearance last summer. The 30-year-old went missing from the Basildon area in July 2022.

[...]

Both legal teams are due to sum up their cases today ahead of the jury being sent out to make their decision.

10:54
Legal directions from the judge

In her legal directions to the jury, Judge Samantha Leigh said that it is agreed Bennett was involved in the theft of various items of jewellery in the summer of 2022. However, she said: “Just because he is guilty of jewellery theft does not mean that he is guilty of the indictment.

The court has taken a brief pause, and now Tracy Ayling KC is set to begin her closing speech to the jury.

11:11
Gary Bennett claims "it was anyone but me"

Ms Ayling tells the jury that Bennett is “cold, calculating and greedy”, which is “born out of the evidence in front of them”. She said: “Gary Bennett doesn’t say ‘we had a terrible row and I lost my temper and killed her, and panicked and I buried her’. Not at all.

“He says the entire case involves someone else. Nothing to do with me, he says, there must be someone else out there who did the deed and drove Madison’s car out to Wat Tyler Country Park and buried her. It was not her necklace he pawned on July 23, the day after her disappearance, despite her blood and DNA being on it, and ‘I didn’t bury her, my DNA must have been on the fence post because I used to work at Wat Tyler Country Park’.

“[he claims] It was anyone but me.”

11:18
'Madison was due to leave Bennett - and he knew it'

Ms Ayling is once again going over messages sent between Bennett and Ms Wright in the weeks before her death. She said: “Madison was scared of ‘how angry you get towards me’. Gary Bennett’s response was ‘you say that but it asked you a really important question and you still say I don’t know’. His response? ‘Not my fault, her fault’.”

Ms Ayling said that in the days before her disappearance, Madison was set on leaving Bennett. She said: “She was off and Gary Bennett knew it. But unfortunately for her she agreed to go around to his home and speak to him. That was the last time she was seen alive. Gary Bennett was the last person to see her alive.”

11:45
Movements of Madison's car

Ms Ayling is once again going over the movements of Madison Wright’s car in the week she disappeared and how it ended up going from Caister Drive to Wat Tyler Country Park to Brackendale Avenue in Basildon. Ms Ayling said that Bennett’s DNA was found in the car alongside Ms Wright’s.

The jury has once again been shown CCTV footage of the car being driven to Brackendale Avenue which the prosecution allege had Ms Wright’s body inside of it, before it was taken to Wat Tyler Country Park. Ms Ayling said it’s a “matter of common sense, isn’t it?”

12:00
Prosecution claims Bennett drained Madison's bank account

Ms Ayling tells the jury Bennett drained Ms Wright’s bank account of cash and put her in debt “out of pure greed” after he allegedly killed her. She said: “Madison Wright’s account goes into £394 in debt, incurs bank charges and returns direct debits. Why would she transfer that much money?

“We suggest that this was pure greed on behalf of this defendant and done by accessing Madison Wright’s phone. Whether he accessed her phone [himself] or callously accessed her phone with her dead finger we will never know. The first thing Gary Bennett does is pop around the corner and take out £250 in cash.”

12:05
'No other candidate for killing', prosecution says

Ms Ayling tells the jury that there is “no other candidate” for the killing of Ms Wright and that the evidence from the scene of her discovery suggests Bennett dragged her body from the car to where her body was found.

She said: “To quote Casablanca, it seems of all the fence panels in all of Wat Tyler Country Park, Mr Bennett’s DNA had to be on this one. There is no other candidate for the killing of Madison Wright.

“Certainly not Erol Wright [Madison’s former husband] - any suggestion of that would be wrong and fanciful.”

Ms Ayling has now concluded her speech. The court has taken a short break and the defence closing speech will begin at 12.20pm.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

12:37
KEY EVENT
Defence say 'there's nothing to say Bennett was responsible for the murder'

The court is back in session now and Christine Agnew KC is beginning her defence closing speech. She tells the jury that Bennett was “not popular” among Ms Wright’s family before her death, and was seen as the “reason for the break-up of Madison and Erol Wright”.

However, she said: “There is not a single piece of evidence in this case to suggest beyond reasonable doubt that Gary Bennett murdered Madison Wright. There’s nothing to say that he was responsible for the murder of Madison Wright.

“He’s absolutely not captured on CCTV at any relevant times. You should of course put any natural sympathy you feel to one side. The criminal trial is about fact, not sympathy.”


12:57
Ms Agnew claims Madison was 'never fearful of Bennett'

Ms Agnew has said that Ms Wright “was never fearful” of Bennett during their relationship. She said: “We say there was no fear on the part of Madison Wright. She wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and tell him what was going on in her mind.” Ms Agnew has referenced one message Ms Wright sent to Bennett saying “I know you’re not going to hit me”.

Ms Agnew also has discussed messages shared between the pair on July 22 before she visited Bennett’s home. She said there is “nothing threatening in those text messages”. She said: “He says he loves her and apologises for being controlling. There’s nothing to suggest he was planning anything.”

The court has now adjourned until 2.05pm.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

14:22
'Prosecution and police theories run wild', defence say

We’re back in session now, and Ms Agnew has admitted to the jury that Bennett was “hard-up”, but that doesn’t mean that “there is an irresistible inference that he stole [Madison’s] money”.

She said: “In each message he is declaring his love for her. How does that sit with him transferring the money within 30 minutes of her arriving at his house? How does it sit within someone who the prosecution say is sophisticated enough to manufacture some text messages that she is texting people.

“Why on earth, if he had just killed her, would he draw even more attention to himself. There’s absolutely no evidence whatsoever that those bank transfers were made when Madison was dead.

“It’s another example of the prosecution and police’s theories being allowed to run wild.”

14:34
Messages and searches by Bennett

Ms Agnew is now discussing the messages sent by Bennett in the week of Ms Wright’s disappearance, and the fact that he pawned various items of stolen jewellery, and jewellery reportedly belonging to her in the same week. She has also referenced internet searches made by Bennett, including looking for crime news in the area and reading about an unrelated murder case.

She said: “There are innocent explanations for any number of those searches and messages and when you actually step back and look at the evidence, there are equally consistent explanations for him not being guilty at all.”

14:50
'No one sees him driving the car'

Ms Agnew is now going over the testimony of Bennett’s neighbours who gave evidence about a night where they allegedly heard Ms Wright’s car being moved away from Caister Drive. She tells the jury neither neighbour could be sure which night it was they heard the sounds of the car.

She said: “It may be the prosecution would like them to be reliable witnesses but in fact they are all over the place with those dates. I am not suggesting that they have come to court to lie.

“We suggest to you that you cannot be sure because the evidence is in such a state. No one sees him [Bennett] driving the car and there’s no CCTV of him driving the car, at all. A complete lack of evidence.”

15:07
Calls and texts Bennett sent to Madison

Ms Agnew said it could be inferred Bennett was worried about Ms Wright when members of her family came around to say she was missing. She said: “Does he disappear, does he make himself scarce or call people to try and help him with some sort of alibi or witness?

“But what he does is calls and texts Madison Wright. All those calls to her phone, not just one or two to keep the smoke screen going but tens of calls.”

Ms Agnew mentioned a “lengthy” message Bennett sent to Madison’s phone regarding a bench he wanted to put in the park for her. She said: “What an extremely weird message to write if he had killed her. But what an understandable message to write if he thinks she is still alive. Why on earth would you make reference to a bench that you put in there in her memory?”

The court has taken a 15 minute break.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

15:33
'Why would he take that chance?'

Back in session, Ms Agnew has questioned why Bennett mentioned Wat Tyler Country Park to the officers when they visited him about Ms Wright’s disappearance. She said: “Why on earth, if he is responsible for her death is he even mentioning Wat Tyler Park?

“Why would he take that chance? When he spoke to the police he is consistent and he is concerned.”

Ms Agnew said that Bennett must have had to carry out an “elaborate trick and charade” if he was responsible for killing Ms Wright.

15:43
'We know he had financial problems and he loved Madison Wright'

There is “nothing” that Bennett could have said that would have been accepted by the police, Ms Agnew tells the jury. She is referring to Bennett making “no comment” in all police interviews following his arrest for the murder of Ms Wright.

She said: “We know he had financial problems and he loved Madison Wright. There’s a certain degree of self-knowledge, he knows on certain occasions Madison finds his behaviour irritating.

15:52
Defence finishes closing speech

“What else could he possibly have said other than ‘I didn’t do it’. There’s not a single thing that he might have said that the police and the prosecution would have accepted.”

She added: “What we say is the correct verdict in this case is not guilty.”

The defence has finished their closing speech and Judge Samantha Leigh has begun her summing up of the case, which will go into tomorrow.

16:11
Judge concludes for the day

Judge Leigh has concluded her summing up for the day and will resume tomorrow morning.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

15:19
Jury returns to verdict

The jury has returned to court to give their verdict.

Gary Bennett has been on trial accused of murdering Madison Wright.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

GUILTY

15:21
KEY EVENT
Guilty verdict

Gary Bennett has been found guilty of the murder of Madison Wright.

The jury were sent out earlier today to deliberate.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

15:23
'One of the most overwhelming cases of murder'

Her Honour Judge Leigh has described it as “one of the most overwhelming” cases of murder that “I have ever seen in some time, even for someone who has been involved in the criminal jsutice system for as long as I have”.

15:59
Killer's angry outburst in court

Gary Bennett yelled at the courtroom as he was found guilty of murdering his partner and hiding her body in a country park.

The killer made the angry outburst before being led away to the cells.

Essex killer jailed for murdering girlfriend - recap

Madison Wright's body was tragically recovered in a park after she disappeared last summer

www.essexlive.news

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

An Essex man yelled at the courtroom as he was found guilty of murdering his partner and hiding her body in a country park. Gary Bennett was convicted unanimously by a jury in less than a day at Basildon Crown Court.

Her Honour Judge Samantha Leigh has described it as “one of the most overwhelming” cases of murder that “I have ever seen in some time, even for someone who has been involved in the criminal justice system for as long as I have” following the jury returning their verdicts in the case of Madison Wright.

[...]

However, today (March 28) the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty after only three hours and 38 minutes of deliberations. Following the verdict, Bennett shouted "how f.u.c.k.i.n.g dare you" to the court before being led away to the cells, and doors could be heard slamming.

The court heard that Bennett, who is set to be sentenced tomorrow at 10am at the same court, may be in handcuffs for his sentencing hearing. Judge Leigh told the court "he is going to face what he has done".

Previously in her closing speech, prosecuting barrister Tracy Ayling KC said there is “no other candidate” for the killing of Ms Wright and that the evidence from the scene of her discovery suggests Bennett dragged her body from the car to where her body was found.

She said: “To quote Casablanca, it seems of all the fence panels in all of Wat Tyler Country Park, Mr Bennett’s DNA had to be on this one. There is no other candidate for the killing of Madison Wright."

Killer yells 'how dare you' as he's found guilty of murder

The jury took less than a day to convict Gary Bennett of the murder

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