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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Shana Grice murder: Throat cut 'by obsessed ex' | Shana Grice murder: Throat cut 'by obsessed ex' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An "obsessed" ex-boyfriend slit a teenager's throat before setting fire to her bedroom, a court has heard. | An "obsessed" ex-boyfriend slit a teenager's throat before setting fire to her bedroom, a court has heard. |
| Michael Lane, 27, is accused of murdering 19-year-old Shana Grice after she renewed a relationship with her previous boyfriend Ashley Cooke. | Michael Lane, 27, is accused of murdering 19-year-old Shana Grice after she renewed a relationship with her previous boyfriend Ashley Cooke. |
| Miss Grice, 19, was found dead at her house in Chrisdory Road in the Mile Oak, Portslade, East Sussex, in August last year, Lewes Crown Court heard. | |
| Mr Lane, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade, denies murder. | Mr Lane, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade, denies murder. |
| The tyre and exhaust fitter had been told by police to stay away from Miss Grice after allegedly stalking and harassing her in the months leading up to her death. | The tyre and exhaust fitter had been told by police to stay away from Miss Grice after allegedly stalking and harassing her in the months leading up to her death. |
| 'Cheat on you' | 'Cheat on you' |
| The jury heard that Mr Lane put a tracker device on her car and told a friend "she'll pay for what she's done", after hearing about Miss Grice's decision to rekindle her relationship with Mr Cooke. | The jury heard that Mr Lane put a tracker device on her car and told a friend "she'll pay for what she's done", after hearing about Miss Grice's decision to rekindle her relationship with Mr Cooke. |
| Five months later, on 9 July last year, Mr Lane was cautioned by police after he stole a key to her back door before letting himself in as she hid under her duvet, the court heard. | Five months later, on 9 July last year, Mr Lane was cautioned by police after he stole a key to her back door before letting himself in as she hid under her duvet, the court heard. |
| Opening the Crown's case, prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said: "Unfortunately, Michael Lane had become obsessed by Shana. | Opening the Crown's case, prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said: "Unfortunately, Michael Lane had become obsessed by Shana. |
| "That obsession with her translated into killing her. He would not allow anyone else to be with her." | "That obsession with her translated into killing her. He would not allow anyone else to be with her." |
| Jurors also heard Mr Cooke's car was damaged, with a note left on it reading: "Dear Ash, Shana has and always will cheat on you. Happy New Year." | Jurors also heard Mr Cooke's car was damaged, with a note left on it reading: "Dear Ash, Shana has and always will cheat on you. Happy New Year." |
| Simon Russell Flint QC, defending, said as a result of police involvement in the problems between Miss Grice and Mr Lane, she was fined and issued a fixed penalty notice for wasting police time. | |
| When Miss Grice failed to turn up to work in the accounts department of Hove company Palmer and Harvey on 25 August, concerned colleagues raised the alarm. | When Miss Grice failed to turn up to work in the accounts department of Hove company Palmer and Harvey on 25 August, concerned colleagues raised the alarm. |
| She was found face down on her bed in her smoke-filled bedroom by Mr Cooke's father, Ian. | She was found face down on her bed in her smoke-filled bedroom by Mr Cooke's father, Ian. |
| During the trial, he said: "I saw the bed and at first I thought it was just a duvet, then I realised there was a body on the bed. | |
| "I was shouting out for Shana. I then saw her face down, arms to her side." | |
| Two seats of fire were revealed on the carpet and the bed. A box of matches was found on the floor and a piece of cardboard had been wedged in the bedroom door to keep it closed. | |
| Two days before Miss Grice was killed she met Mr Lane at a hotel in Hove where it was agreed their relationship was over, but he refused to accept it, the jury heard. | Two days before Miss Grice was killed she met Mr Lane at a hotel in Hove where it was agreed their relationship was over, but he refused to accept it, the jury heard. |
| Bloodstained trainers | |
| Mr Bennetts said Mr Lane waited until the last person had left Miss Grice's bungalow before going in, slashing her throat and setting the fires. | Mr Bennetts said Mr Lane waited until the last person had left Miss Grice's bungalow before going in, slashing her throat and setting the fires. |
| A pair of bloodstained trainers with Mr Lane's DNA was discovered nearby five days after her death. | |
| In early police interviews, Mr Lane said he had not been at Miss Grice's home on the day of the killing but later changed his account. | |
| He told officers: "You ain't going to believe me... in the morning I did go to Shana's." | |
| He said the front door was open and he saw Shana was on the floor leaning against the bed. | |
| Mr Bennetts told the jurors: "He didn't telephone the police. He didn't telephone for an ambulance. He told no-one about what he had seen. He panicked. He said he thought the police would blame him." | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |