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Students faced 'inhuman' torture Students faced 'inhuman' torture
(9 minutes later)
The flat where two French students were murdered after a burglary went wrong was a scene of "almost unimaginable horror", the Old Bailey has heard.The flat where two French students were murdered after a burglary went wrong was a scene of "almost unimaginable horror", the Old Bailey has heard.
Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack in New Cross, south-east London, last June. Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds in the attack in Sterling Gardens in New Cross, south-east London, last June.
Danno Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, deny the murders.Danno Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, deny the murders.
The killings were revenge after thieves failed to steal money, the court heard.The killings were revenge after thieves failed to steal money, the court heard.
Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.
They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times Crispin Aylett QCThey had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times Crispin Aylett QC
"What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror," he said."What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror," he said.
Mr Aylett said Mr Sonnex and Mr Farmer burst into the bedsit in Sterling Gardens, overpowered and bound them and demanded their bank card Pin numbers. Mr Aylett said Mr Sonnex and Mr Farmer burst into the bedsit at about 0530 BST on 29 June, overpowered and bound the two students and demanded their bank card Pin numbers.
The students thought it best to co-operate and that "it would all soon be over", he said. The students thought it best to co-operate but when the card was retained by a cash machine the men returned to "take revenge", jurors were told.
But when the card was retained by a cash machine they returned to "take revenge". The court heard one of the burglars returned that night to set the flat on fire.
'Merciless onslaught''Merciless onslaught'
"The two men, dressed only in their underpants, had been tied up. Mr Aylett said: "The two men, dressed only in their underpants, had been tied up.
"They had been bound at the ankles and the wrists. Their heads had been wrapped with towels."They had been bound at the ankles and the wrists. Their heads had been wrapped with towels.
"They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times."They had been subjected to an attack of brutal and sustained ferocity - one of them had been stabbed 194 times, the other 50 times.
"Both of them had been repeatedly stabbed in the head. In some instances, a knife had been used with such force that the skull had been penetrated and damage caused to the brain."
Family members of the students were present in courtFamily members of the students were present in court
The badly-burnt bodies of the two "brilliant" students were found after an explosion at the property. The jury heard the students faced a "relentless and merciless onslaught". "Both of them had been repeatedly stabbed in the head. In some instances, a knife had been used with such force that the skull had been penetrated and damage caused to the brain."
The biochemistry masters students from Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, in central France, were weeks away from finishing their research project at Imperial College in London when they were killed. The badly-burnt bodies were found after an explosion at the property.
The biochemistry masters students from Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, in central France, were weeks away from finishing their research project at Imperial College.
The court was told they faced a "relentless and merciless onslaught".
The families of the students were present in court as the trial got under way.The families of the students were present in court as the trial got under way.
Mr Aylett said: "These two bright, talented and engaging young men had brilliant futures ahead of them. Neither of them had an enemy in the world." 'Unmitigated evil'
The court heard a neighbour alerted by the explosion had seen a man flee the property. Mr Farmer handed himself in days after an e-fit image was released.
A witness who was at the police station said his face and hands were badly burned.
Mr Farmer was living with the other defendant at the time.
The court heard Mr Sonnex's palm-mark was found on the frame of a foldaway bed and he was also seen on CCTV withdrawing money on the stolen cards.
The jury heard the two defendants were now blaming each other but Mr Aylett said the crime was a joint enterprise of "unmitigated evil".
Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and trying to pervert the course of justice.Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and trying to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Sonnex has admitted one count of burglary at the property on the same date as the murders but Mr Farmer denies a charge of burglary.Mr Sonnex has admitted one count of burglary at the property on the same date as the murders but Mr Farmer denies a charge of burglary.
The trial continues.The trial continues.