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Susan Whiting: Murder accused Steven Beards 'kept sperm sample' | Susan Whiting: Murder accused Steven Beards 'kept sperm sample' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man accused of rape and murder told a jury he kept a sample of his sperm in the bathroom but had no idea how his DNA was found inside the victim. | |
Steven Beards, 34, and his wife Julie Beards, 35 deny murdering Susan Whiting, a 20-year-old student from Walsall, who had learning difficulties. | |
Mr Beards said he had been sleeping in the woods on the night of the murder. | Mr Beards said he had been sleeping in the woods on the night of the murder. |
But his wife told the court she came out of the bathroom to find her husband standing over her friend's body. | But his wife told the court she came out of the bathroom to find her husband standing over her friend's body. |
Updates on the Susan Whiting murder trial | Updates on the Susan Whiting murder trial |
Miss Whiting went missing in August after going to stay the night with Mrs Beards, who also has learning difficulties. | Miss Whiting went missing in August after going to stay the night with Mrs Beards, who also has learning difficulties. |
Her body was found wrapped in a shower curtain under a bed at the couple's house in Bloxwich. | Her body was found wrapped in a shower curtain under a bed at the couple's house in Bloxwich. |
She had been drugged, raped and died of a fractured skull after being hit on the head at least three times, the jury heard earlier in the trial. | She had been drugged, raped and died of a fractured skull after being hit on the head at least three times, the jury heard earlier in the trial. |
Mr Beards, who also denies rape, told Leicester Crown Court he had "no idea" why his sperm was found inside Miss Whiting's body. | |
He said he intended on being a sperm donor and had a sample in the bathroom. | He said he intended on being a sperm donor and had a sample in the bathroom. |
He had no sexual interest in his wife's friend and had not drugged her food with "sedating hypnotic drug" Zoplicone, he told the jury. | He had no sexual interest in his wife's friend and had not drugged her food with "sedating hypnotic drug" Zoplicone, he told the jury. |
He denied tying her up, having sex with her or hitting her over the head with a hammer, the court heard. | He denied tying her up, having sex with her or hitting her over the head with a hammer, the court heard. |
Mr Beards told the court he married his wife in 2007 and for two years they lived in a tent. | Mr Beards told the court he married his wife in 2007 and for two years they lived in a tent. |
He said he suffered from depression and had tried to kill himself. | |
Mrs Beards told the jury her husband was abusive, had raped her twice and tried to suffocate her with a pillow. | Mrs Beards told the jury her husband was abusive, had raped her twice and tried to suffocate her with a pillow. |
Mr Beards denies committing any of those acts and the trial continues. | Mr Beards denies committing any of those acts and the trial continues. |
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