UK UK - Sarah Wellgreen, 46, Kent, 9 Oct 2018

[hitthenick]

Ok, it's an exaggeration, but this is text book explaining away the evidence no matter how unlikely his explanation is. It's basically boiling down to 3 themes:

• Ask my Mum.
• My father was accused of sexual assault.
• My solicitor told me not to answer police questions even though I could easily explain.

He's been on remand since December, but thought it would be better to wait till trial to put his case across.

There’s nothing unusual about him putting his case across at trial, it’s very common and very common to use no comment in police interviews too. I’ve watched every single bit of this since it was announced she went missing.

All they have really is missing phones, a kid saying he wasn’t in, him driving on lanes for a few minutes and one or two other snippets. No DNA, no seized laptop info or phone, no phone triangulations, no vehicle dna evidence. It’s a fairly weak case.

I’m personally not that impressed with the prosecution evidence against him, I was expecting much more to come out. I’m surprised at Sarah’s passion for seeming to need a man in her life and her internet dating addiction. She obviously couldn’t hold down a relationship without having someone else on the side.

FWIW - I think he is responsible for it. I think he suffocated her when she was asleep, carried her out and dumped her fairly locally. How he got her out and to the car without arousing suspicion or making any noise is what I’d like to know.

 

[Mrs Marple]

I am worried there isn't enough evidence as well to be honest. If l was sat on the jury, knowing it has to be beyond reasonable doubt, l would struggle. It will be interesting to hear the judge's direction and summary to the jury at the end of the trial.

 

[hitthenick]

Have you seen the cctv footage of the early morning car journey that the Prosecution ,and most people, are sure is BL's vehicle, @hitthenick ?

Any possible way that it isnt that car iyo?

Spy, hello again, yes seen the CCTV of the police run and Bens run too.
The car is definitely the same car in both the police run and bens run. It’s as clear as daylight, every detail is perfectly matched on the police part against bens part, the wheels , the roof line, window shapes, lights and sloping bonnet are the main details to look at. One can also just about make out the drivers door with the taxi details shaded differently to the cars paintwork.

 

[Spy Versus Spy]

He literally can't do a anything without that woman.

Mother is the necessity of invention

 

[Mrs Marple]

Mother is the necessity of invention

I see what you did there

 

[hitthenick]

I am worried there isn't enough evidence as well to be honest. If l was sat on the jury, knowing it has to be beyond reasonable doubt, l would struggle. It will be interesting to hear the judge's direction and summary to the jury at the end of the trial.

Yes looking into this from a jury point of view, I would struggle and at the moment on the case facts and evidence offered, I can’t say he has murdered her beyond reasonable doubt. And don’t forget all of the jury more or less has to agree.

Some conflicting parts to the case which there always is but I’m on the fence if I was a jury member.

I think he has covered himself quite well up to now, see what happens when they start ripping into him.

Somehow and assuming he is responsible, he’s done a very good job on her for her to not be found or for them to have absolutely no idea what happened or even roughly where she is and not leaving a shred of evidence behind from the house or the car either.

Over 2000 places of interest doesn’t give me much confidence.

 

[Alyce]

14:56

Prosecution: 'You were trying to cover your tracks'

The 999 call that Lacomba made to police to report Sarah Wellgreen missing is played in court. The operator asks: “Do you have any idea where she might be?”

Ms Morgan, prosecuting, says Lacomba pauses before he says: “No I don’t.”

“You know precisely where Miss Wellgreen’s body might be. You just have to point on that map and they (police) will be there in minutes,” says Ms Morgan.

Lacomba replies: “I did everything in my power to help find Sarah when they were investigating her disappearance. I was advised not to say anything by my solicitor.”

Ms Morgan says:

You chose to say nothing for nine hours. You sat there silent in interview for nine hours when the police asked you about all of these events and the truth is you weren’t acting on advice, you were trying to make sure that you didn’t slip up.

“You didn’t dare speak. You didn’t want to incriminate yourself did you and it’s only now that you’re here in this courtroom and you know what the evidence is and your prepared answers that you’re prepared to say anything.

“Before that, you were trying to cover your tracks weren’t you?”


Ms Morgan then asks Lacomba: “Did you care at all about Sarah at that time?”

After a long pause of silence, Lacomba replies: “Yes. I did everything possible to help the police find Sarah. I was worried about where Sarah is.”



Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Alyce]

15:07

'Lacomba tried to blame others in 999 call', say prosecution

Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, says Lacomba tried to put the blame on other people in the 999 call.

She runs Lacomba through his mentions of Neil James, the claim that Neil James’s ex was “stalking Sarah”, Anthony Garnham and Nicole Doherty.

“One of Sarah’s best and closest friends (Nicole Doherty) and here are you in this 999 call throwing her in the mix,” says Ms Morgan, who Lacomba thought had previously been “stalking” him. Ms Morgan continues:

This was a distraction wasn’t it? That’s what you wanted wasn’t it? To distract away from you. To give you time to get your story straight and get rid of all those bits of evidence that might catch up with you.

“That’s how you want to portray Sarah isnt it? Lots of men in her life. But not you Mr Lacomba. That perfect happy family that you thought was going to happen when she came back in May - that wasn’t what happened at all was it Mr Lacomba?”


Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Alyce]

15:20
Lacomba quizzed over comments on 999 call

When questioning Lacomba over looking through Sarah’s phones after he returned home on October 10, Ms Morgan says: “You wanted to find out dirt from Sarah’s phone so you could say to the police that there were more likely candidates than you for murdering her.”

Lacomba is also questioned about a comment he makes in the 999 call in relation to police arriving at the house. He says he “was not worried” about police getting to his house first after he called 999 while in Dartford.

During the call, Lacomba asks the operator that if the patrol is sent immediately to 22 Bazes Shaw. could they call him if they get there before he does.

“You must have torn back to the address at that point Mr Lacomba,” says Ms Morgan.

Lacomba also said he didn’t think it was “relevant” to tell the call operator about her new job and instead told them she was “in debt”, the court heard.

He also didn’t mention the mortgage plans as he didn’t think it was “relevant” but “that’s what was really bothering you at that time” says Ms Morgan. She adds: “It didn’t fit with how you wanted the police to see Sarah at that time did it?”


Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Alyce]

15:24

Prosecution questions Lacomba over CCTV cameras at house

Ms Morgan, prosecuting, says to Lacomba: “You knew that the rear camera of 23 Bazes Shaw did not show car park 2.”

Lacomba replies: “I knew that it didn’t cover any car parks but I didn’t know exactly what it did and didn’t cover”

Ben Lacomba is 168cm tall and the fence at the rear garden is 147cm. “If you’re beneath that height, you’re safe,” says Ms Morgan. “All you had to do was dip your head and you wouldn’t be seen. You knew that perfectly well in October 2018.”

A black DVR system was pictured in Lacomba’s bedroom in July 2019. “My mother purchased a new DVR system so it now works and records,” says Lacomba.


Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Alyce]

15:30

'Sarah couldn't stand Lacomba', says friend

The jury have heard the statement of Sarah’s friend Nicole Doherty, which was read to them. Ms Doherty says Sarah told her: “She couldn’t stand sleeping in the same bed as him. She found him fat and ugly and couldn’t bear him.”

“I’m quite used to Sarah talking about me in that way,” says Lacomba.

On a later text to Neil James where Sarah called Lacomba a “fat t***”, Ms Morgan says:


She called you a fat t*** because that’s how she viewed you isn’t it Mr Lacomba? And that’s why far from being a happy family, you didn’t get on at all did you?

“Sarah wanted you out of that house and she wanted to buy you out. What you were worried about was you Mr Lacomba.

“She was going to kick you out wasn’t she?”



Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Websleuther08]

@Websleuther08

Welcome! There's a few of us UK members here. Personally, I follow mainly UK cases unless I come across a non uk case like Delphi, Chris Watts or Douglas Garland.

Great first post

Thank you. I'm enjoying this thread and hearing other's opinions.

 

[Spy Versus Spy]

Spy, hello again, yes seen the CCTV of the police run and Bens run too.
The car is definitely the same car in both the police run and bens run. It’s as clear as daylight, every detail is perfectly matched on the police part against bens part, the wheels , the roof line, window shapes, lights and sloping bonnet are the main details to look at. One can also just about make out the drivers door with the taxi details shaded differently to the cars paintwork.

Hi man and thanks HTN


(Ps and offtopic. A few months ago I suggested a couple of people on the Claudia case priv messaged you re some car info. The thread took on a few new legs and involved a person who knew all involved, never before spoken. Some cctv and other shots of various plates and vehicles. Not sure if you engaged)

 

[mrazda71]

There’s nothing unusual about him putting his case across at trial, it’s very common and very common to use no comment in police interviews too. I’ve watched every single bit of this since it was announced she went missing.

All they have really is missing phones, a kid saying he wasn’t in, him driving on lanes for a few minutes and one or two other snippets. No DNA, no seized laptop info or phone, no phone triangulations, no vehicle dna evidence. It’s a fairly weak case.

I’m personally not that impressed with the prosecution evidence against him, I was expecting much more to come out. I’m surprised at Sarah’s passion for seeming to need a man in her life and her internet dating addiction. She obviously couldn’t hold down a relationship without having someone else on the side.

FWIW - I think he is responsible for it. I think he suffocated her when she was asleep, carried her out and dumped her fairly locally. How he got her out and to the car without arousing suspicion or making any noise is what I’d like to know.

BBM

Websleuth is a victim friendly forum - this doesn't read as very friendly towards the victim.

She was a grown woman doing what has earned men a pat on the back for for a long time. Women are allowed to enjoy sex these days. Your comment is a judgement on her life and that's unfair and unwarranted.

 

[Alyce]

15:41

Further questions over CCTV cameras and where Lacomba parked

Ben Lacomba is again being questioned about his knowledge of what areas the CCTV cameras in Bazes Shaw were covering.

“If you were parking in car park 2, it must have very much been the second choice unless you had a very specific reason,” says Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting.

Lacomba claims that it was when it was busy and to let Sarah park next to the house. Ms Morgan says:


You didn’t look (in car park 1) because you didn’t need to because this was about parking in car park 2 for a very specific reason.”

Lacomba replies:

I can’t remember the exact reason but it would have been the exact reason.”


The jury is shown footage from the minutes before Lacomba arrives home at 5.08pm on October 9 from a camera at 23 Bazes Shaw which shows eight spaces free in car park 1 at the time. “It was no accident,” says Ms Morgan.

When asked why he turned off his CCTV “on the night you murdered Sarah Wellgreen”, Lacomba says: “I did not murder Sarah Wellgreen. I did not turn off those cameras.”

He adds that he “does not know why there’s no power going to those cameras at that time” and doesn’t know who turned the mains switch off.

“There was no deliberate reason for me to turn off the CCTV system in my room,” he says.

Lacomba says he went to sleep between 10pm and 11pm on October 9.

Sarah’s son Lewis Burdett says Lacomba told him that he switched it off “by accident” when attempting to charge his phone in the adjoining plug.

In the 999 call, he told the operator about the CCTV system being switched off.

“You started to embellish your story a bit didn’t you,” says Ms Morgan.

Lacomba told PC Manley that he believed Sarah had turned off the CCTV. “It was a possibility that had come into my mind,” Lacomba explained.

Ms Morgan says: “You wanted to make sure that there was no possibility that anything on your CCTV unit was recorded that day.”

 

[Alyce]

The jury is shown footage from the minutes before Lacomba arrives home at 5.08pm on October 9 from a camera at 23 Bazes Shaw which shows eight spaces free in car park 1 at the time. “It was no accident,” says Ms Morgan




Hard for BL to explain that one

 

[deugirtni]

11:14

Lacomba questioned over 'different shoes' he was wearing on October 10

On the morning of October 10, Lacomba went into the All Night Cars taxi office. Upon arrival, he said he “couldn’t find a pair of jeans” so “had to wear these today (looks down at shoes)“.

A colleague at the taxi office looked at his shoes and said: “Where on earth you get those shoes from mate?”

Lacomba then says “I can’t find my brown ones anywhere”. These are brown leather slip-ons he usually wears whenever he tends to go in the office.

He says he found the brown shoes but he “can’t remember where” on the day that he was arrested on October 16.

A photo of Lacomba at Northfleet police station on that day is shown to the jury which show him wearing brown shoes. He says it is the same pair he has owned for a couple of years and was unable to find that morning (October 10).

So......... he couldn't find his 'jeans'?? And *that's* why he had to wear those shoes.... orrrrrrrrrr.. he couldn't find his regular (brown) shoes.... orrrrrrrrr.. he couldn't find EITHER his jeans nor his regular shoes???? He loses them for.. how long.. from Oct 10th to Oct 16th, so a week.. but yet he doesn't *remember* where he finally found them?? Hey, all of that sounds believable!!

 

[Alyce]

15:53

Lacomba says he 'was not awake' on night Sarah went missing

Ben Lacomba is insisting that he was not awake during the night of October 9 and into the early hours of October 10.

“I was not up that night (October 9),” he says.

Asked about where his phones were that night, Lacomba says they were in his bedroom.

Evidence from Mr Warton said one phone had a data session which started at 9.12pm until 1.30am. Lacomba says: “I don’t remember going on the telephone at that sort of time.”

Another phone had a data session which started at 11.42pm until 1.42am. Ms Morgan says:

We’d know all about these phones and what you were doing in the early hours of October 10 if we had them.

“That was the reason why you had to get rid of those telephones.

“You were worried about what the telephones would tell the police about where you had been overnight on the night of October 9.

“I suggest you were active that night and that is why there are data sessions on precisely the same window that the CCTV was turned off.

“You were up and about weren’t you Mr Lacomba?”

 

[Alyce]

16:08

Prosecution: 'Car on CCTV was same shape, model, wheel spoke as Lacomba's taxi and with something light on front door'

Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, has suggested that Lacomba could not have been asleep on the night of October 9 into the early hours of October 10 as a car seen on CCTV exiting and entering New Ash Green was the same as his.

Lacomba explains:

I don’t see how that’s my vehicle as I was home at night.

“It couldn’t have been me driving that car that night as I was asleep in my bedroom.”



Ms Morgan replies:



Same shape, model, with something light on the front door. Same wheel spoke shape?

“You can see it there yourself.”



Live updates as Sarah Wellgreen's ex-partner goes on trial accused of her murder

 

[Alyce]