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Christina Abbotts: Murder accused 'blames red mist' | Christina Abbotts: Murder accused 'blames red mist' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A City banker accused of murdering a sex worker has blamed "a red mist" for causing him to attack her with a large ceramic pestle. | A City banker accused of murdering a sex worker has blamed "a red mist" for causing him to attack her with a large ceramic pestle. |
Zahid Naseem, 48, admits killing Christina Abbotts at a flat in Crawley, West Sussex, in May but denies murder. | |
He told Lewes Crown Court he was acting in self defence after a sex game went wrong. | |
Jurors heard Ms Abbotts suffered more than 13 wounds to her head and more than 20 to other parts of her body. | Jurors heard Ms Abbotts suffered more than 13 wounds to her head and more than 20 to other parts of her body. |
Taking the stand for a second day, Mr Naseem, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, recalled how Ms Abbotts had her hands around his neck and was choking him, and he was simply fighting back. | Taking the stand for a second day, Mr Naseem, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, recalled how Ms Abbotts had her hands around his neck and was choking him, and he was simply fighting back. |
"A red mist may have descended over me," he told the court. | "A red mist may have descended over me," he told the court. |
"I think I may have lost my composure. I got out of that room as quickly as possible." | "I think I may have lost my composure. I got out of that room as quickly as possible." |
Cross-examined by prosecution barrister Christopher Tehrani, Mr Naseem denied he had been under financial pressure and was facing mounting debts of at least £100,000. | |
He also denied he may have been irritated that Ms Abbotts was spending time - for which he was paying £2,000 per night - texting friends who were wishing her a happy 29th birthday. | He also denied he may have been irritated that Ms Abbotts was spending time - for which he was paying £2,000 per night - texting friends who were wishing her a happy 29th birthday. |
Asked why after realising he had killed Ms Abbotts he had sent a text to his partner and mother of his two young children, Helen Jervis, that read "life isn't going to work for me", he said: "I don't remember sending it... I was very upset about something." | |
"Were you upset because you knew you had bludgeoned her to death?" Mr Tehrani asked. | "Were you upset because you knew you had bludgeoned her to death?" Mr Tehrani asked. |
"I knew she was dead," replied Mr Naseem. | "I knew she was dead," replied Mr Naseem. |
Summing up for the prosecution, Mr Tehrani said: "There was no red mist. Something happened to make you strike her more than 30 times on the head, leg, back, and neck." | |
"It doesn't sound like me," replied Mr Naseem. | "It doesn't sound like me," replied Mr Naseem. |
Ms Jervis told the court that her relationship with Mr Naseem had broken down some time ago, but she said he had never been violent to her and was a good father. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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