30/01/2008

Victim's Evidence Heard At Suffolk Murder Trail

Jurors at the trial of the man accused of killing five women in Ipswich have heard evidence from 'beyond the grave'.

A statement was read from one of the alleged victims of the accused, 49-year-old Steve Wright - who denies the murders - yesterday.

Paula Clennell, 24, had given a statement to police a month before her own dead body was found and followed the disappearance of another of the victims, Tania Nicol, 19.

This 'voice from the grave' revealed details of the last time that Paula saw Miss Nicol before she disappeared.

Her body was discovered around two months later, while Anneli Alderton, 24, Gemma Adams, 25, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls all disappeared while working as prostitutes on the streets of Ipswich.

Their naked bodies were found over a period of 10 days in December 2006, dumped in isolated locations around the town.

Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told Ipswich Crown Court Miss Clennell had said she last saw Miss Nicol on 31 October 2006.

On 13 November 2006, Miss Clennell spoke to investigating officers and told them how she regularly stood near Miss Nicol as they waited to pick up clients in Ipswich's red light district.

The jury heard how Miss Clennell had stated Miss Nicol had got into a silver estate car, possibly an Audi or a Mercedes, at around 1.00 am on 31 October.

Miss Clennell said: "Tania was standing in her usual place. I assumed the passenger window was wound down as Tania got into the car.’’

She added that the car then drove away, driven by a white man in his mid-forties.

"I didn't see Tania any more. That is the last time I saw her," her statement read.

(GC)


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