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Shannon mother's courtroom tears Shannon mother's courtroom tears
(30 minutes later)
Shannon Matthews' mother burst into tears minutes after going into the witness box to give evidence.Shannon Matthews' mother burst into tears minutes after going into the witness box to give evidence.
Karen Matthews sobbed as she told her barrister she was "disgusted because she had nothing to do" with her daughter's disappearance.Karen Matthews sobbed as she told her barrister she was "disgusted because she had nothing to do" with her daughter's disappearance.
Ms Matthews, 33, and Michael Donovan 41, deny several charges over Shannon's disappearance. Ms Matthews, 33, and Michael Donovan, 41, deny several charges over Shannon's disappearance.
Frances Oldham QC led Karen Matthews through her evidence in the trial's third week at Leeds Crown Court. Earlier, Ms Matthews' barrister Frances Oldham QC told the jury her client had been "demonised" by the media.
Before Ms Matthews was called to give evidence, Mrs Oldham addressed the jury and told them only to judge the defendant on the evidence in the trial. Before she was called to give evidence, Mrs Oldham told the jury only to judge Ms Matthews on the evidence in the trial.
'Smear and prejudice''Smear and prejudice'
Mrs Oldham told the jury: "The media has decided that Karen Matthews is guilty, the police have decided that Karen Matthews is guilty. She said: "The media has decided that Karen Matthews is guilty, the police have decided that Karen Matthews is guilty.
"It would be easy to approach Karen Matthews' evidence on the basis she's a liar."It would be easy to approach Karen Matthews' evidence on the basis she's a liar.
"She has been demonised in the media and you could be forgiven for expecting the worst from her.""She has been demonised in the media and you could be forgiven for expecting the worst from her."
Shannon Matthews disappeared in FebruaryShannon Matthews disappeared in February
She added: "There are only 12 people in the whole of this country who have had the opportunity of considering, not just smear, not just injustice, not just prejudice, but evidence here, of evidence in this case."She added: "There are only 12 people in the whole of this country who have had the opportunity of considering, not just smear, not just injustice, not just prejudice, but evidence here, of evidence in this case."
Once in the witness box Ms Matthews was asked by Mrs Oldham if she had planned the kidnap of her daughter.Once in the witness box Ms Matthews was asked by Mrs Oldham if she had planned the kidnap of her daughter.
"I did not," she told the jury."I did not," she told the jury.
She also denied she threatened to have Mr Donovan killed or have his car burnt out.She also denied she threatened to have Mr Donovan killed or have his car burnt out.
Mrs Oldham asked her: "Did you know Shannon was at Lidgate Gardens with Michael Donovan?"Mrs Oldham asked her: "Did you know Shannon was at Lidgate Gardens with Michael Donovan?"
"I did not," she replied."I did not," she replied.
Ms Matthews said she only knew where Shannon was when it was shown on the news, adding she was "shocked".Ms Matthews said she only knew where Shannon was when it was shown on the news, adding she was "shocked".
She told the court she had not planned the kidnap to claim £50,000 in reward money.She told the court she had not planned the kidnap to claim £50,000 in reward money.
Drug denialDrug denial
Karen Matthews told the court that her partner at the time of Shannon's disappearance, Craig Meehan, had been violent to her and abusive to her children apart from Shannon. Ms Matthews also told the court that her partner at the time of Shannon's disappearance, Craig Meehan, had been violent to her and abusive to her children apart from Shannon.
Asked about the drug traces of Temazepam found in Shannon's hair, Ms Matthews denied having the drug in the house. Asked about the traces of the drug temazepam found in Shannon's hair, Ms Matthews denied having the drug in the house.
She also denied ever having visited Michael Donovan's home. She also denied ever having visited Mr Donovan's home.
As the court was shown the first tearful television appeal Ms Matthews made, she denied she had been play-acting. After the court was shown the first tearful television appeal Ms Matthews made during Shannon's disappearance, she said she had not been play-acting.
Ms Matthews and Michael Donovan, 40, are accused of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice in connection with Shannon's disappearance in February. She also said she was scared of her former partner Mr Meehan and said telling the police lies had been his idea.
She said Mr Meehan had told her she should "take the blame for Shannon because she had no convictions, was female and would get off lightly".
Ms Matthews and Mr Donovan are accused of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice in connection with Shannon's disappearance in February.
The case continues.The case continues.