24/11/2008

Jury Out In Hannah Foster Murder Case

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering teenager Hannah Foster has retired to consider its verdict.

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, 41, denies allegations of rape, kidnap, false imprisonment and murder at Winchester Crown Court.

Hannah, 17, disappeared in Southampton after a night out with friends in March 2003.

Her body was discovered by the side of the road two days later.

Kohli, a sandwich delivery driver, had fled to India, but he was extradited back to the UK last year.

The jury heard the defendant claim he was abducted and forced to have sex with a girl he now knows to be Hannah.

He also claims he was the victim of a conspiracy to frame him, as "revenge" after he blackmailed a work colleague, James Dennis, for around £16,000.

Kohli told the jury he had taken the money in return for keeping quiet about an affair he was having with Mr Dennis's wife.

However, Mr Dennis and his wife, Carole, denied the affair had taken place.

The sandwich delivery driver also said Mr Dennis' brother, Jonathan, had threatened him, then abducted him and forced him to have sex with the teenager.

He added that the gang - who asked him to pay them £25,000 - would say the girl was raped, if he went to the police.

(JM)

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