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Killing accused 'murdered before' Killing accused 'murdered before'
(about 7 hours later)
A 62-year-old man accused of murdering an 18-year-old girl has already been convicted of killing another teenager, a jury has been told. A 62-year-old man accused of murdering an 18-year-old woman has already been convicted of killing another teenager, a jury has been told.
Peter Tobin, 62, from Renfrewshire, in Scotland, denies murdering Dinah McNicol, of Tillingham, Essex, who disappeared in the summer of 1991.Peter Tobin, 62, from Renfrewshire, in Scotland, denies murdering Dinah McNicol, of Tillingham, Essex, who disappeared in the summer of 1991.
William Clegg QC, prosecuting, told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court that Mr Tobin had killed before.William Clegg QC, prosecuting, told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court that Mr Tobin had killed before.
He is serving life for the murder of Vicky Hamilton, 15, Mr Clegg said.He is serving life for the murder of Vicky Hamilton, 15, Mr Clegg said.
The court heard that Miss McNicol had disappeared after attending a music festival at Liphook, Hampshire, in 1991.The court heard that Miss McNicol had disappeared after attending a music festival at Liphook, Hampshire, in 1991.
Jurors were told Mr Tobin was alleged to have murdered her between August 1991 and January 1992. Her remains were discovered in 2007. Jurors were told Mr Tobin murdered her between August 1991 and January 1992. Her remains were discovered in 2007.
The bodies of Miss McNicol and Miss Hamilton were found buried in the garden at the back of Mr Tobin's former home, he said. The bodies of Miss McNicol and Miss Hamilton were found buried in the garden at the back of Mr Tobin's former home, Mr Clegg said.
He said in 2007 suspicion had fallen on Mr Tobin and police searched a house where he had lived in Irvine Drive in Margate, Kent. He said suspicion had fallen on Mr Tobin in 2007, causing police to search a house where he had lived in Irvine Drive in Margate, Kent.
Mr Tobin is serving a life sentence for the murder of Vicky Hamilton, 15. Mr Tobin is serving a life sentence for the murder of Vicky Hamilton, 15
Miss McNicol's decomposed body was found in a shallow grave in the back garden.Miss McNicol's decomposed body was found in a shallow grave in the back garden.
Her ankles and wrists had been tied together with the headscarf and leggings she was wearing when she vanished, Mr Clegg said.Her ankles and wrists had been tied together with the headscarf and leggings she was wearing when she vanished, Mr Clegg said.
The jury was shown a computer graphic of how her body was found in the back garden. It showed her ankles by her head and how her body had been wrapped in bin sacks. The jury was shown a computer graphic of how her body was found in the back garden. It showed McNicol's ankles by her head and how her body had been wrapped in bin sacks.
Mr Clegg said neighbours recalled seeing Mr Tobin digging in the garden during the summer of 1991.Mr Clegg said neighbours recalled seeing Mr Tobin digging in the garden during the summer of 1991.
"His immediate neighbour, David Martin, saw him digging the grave in which the body of Dinah was found back in the summer of 1991", Mr Clegg said. "His immediate neighbour, David Martin, saw him digging the grave in which the body of Dinah was found back in the summer of 1991," Mr Clegg said.
"Having seen how deep the hole was he actually joked to the defendant that he was digging to Australia."Having seen how deep the hole was he actually joked to the defendant that he was digging to Australia.
'Striking similarities''Striking similarities'
"The defendant's reply was that he was digging a sandpit for his son. Later when the hole had been filled in the defendant explained that the social services had said that a sandpit was too dangerous and he had filled it in." "The defendant's reply was that he was digging a sandpit for his son.
The court heard her abduction and death bore striking similarities to three other attacks Mr Tobin has been convicted of. "Later when the hole had been filled in the defendant explained that the social services had said that a sandpit was too dangerous and he had filled it in."
Mr Clegg said Mr Tobin was convicted in 2004 of raping and assaulting a 14-year-old girl and sexually attacking another young girl. The court heard Miss McNicol's abduction and death bore striking similarities to three other attacks Mr Tobin has been convicted of.
The jury was told he abducted Miss Hamilton in Bathgate, near Edinburgh, in February 1991, sexually assaulted, then killed her. Mr Clegg said Mr Tobin was found guilty in 2004 of raping and assaulting a 14-year-old girl and sexually attacking another young girl.
He cut her body in half and transported it to Margate where he buried the body, jurors heard. The jury was told he abducted Miss Hamilton in Bathgate, near Edinburgh, in February 1991, sexually assaulted her, then killed her.
He cut her body in half and transported it to Margate where he buried her remains, jurors heard.
Peter Tobin arrives at court in a van as Dinah's father Ian McNicol attends the trialPeter Tobin arrives at court in a van as Dinah's father Ian McNicol attends the trial
Mr Clegg said that in each case Mr Tobin had used a drug called anatryptaline which makes its victims more compliant by making them feel drowsy and dizzy. Mr Clegg said that in each case Mr Tobin had used a drug called amitriptyline which makes its victims more compliant by making them feel drowsy and dizzy.
He added that the case of Vicky Hamilton bore a striking resemblance to the murder of Miss McNicol. He added that the case of Miss Hamilton bore a striking resemblance to the murder of Miss McNicol.
He said: "...The evidence in this case demonstrates a propensity to abduct young girls, murder them and bury their bodies in rubbish sacks. He said: "The evidence in this case demonstrates a propensity to abduct young girls, murder them and bury their bodies in rubbish sacks.
"There cannot be many people in the world who share this propensity. It is clear the defendant's motives for these attacks were sexual.""There cannot be many people in the world who share this propensity. It is clear the defendant's motives for these attacks were sexual."
The court heard that on Friday 2 August 1991, Miss McNicol and a school friend were given a lift to the Hampshire music festival.The court heard that on Friday 2 August 1991, Miss McNicol and a school friend were given a lift to the Hampshire music festival.
Miss McNicol spent the first night with her friend, then the rest of the festival with a man she met there.Miss McNicol spent the first night with her friend, then the rest of the festival with a man she met there.
The man and Miss McNicol left on the Monday, hitchhiking up the A3, the court was told. The second lift they received was from a man driving on his own.The man and Miss McNicol left on the Monday, hitchhiking up the A3, the court was told. The second lift they received was from a man driving on his own.
Mr Clegg said Miss McNicol's friend got out of the car at junction 8 of the M25. It was the last time Miss McNicol was seen alive.Mr Clegg said Miss McNicol's friend got out of the car at junction 8 of the M25. It was the last time Miss McNicol was seen alive.
Mr Clegg said: "He left Dinah sat in the front passenger seat of the car. The only other person in the car was the driver.Mr Clegg said: "He left Dinah sat in the front passenger seat of the car. The only other person in the car was the driver.
"No-one ever saw or heard from her again. She never contacted any of her friends or any members of her family.""No-one ever saw or heard from her again. She never contacted any of her friends or any members of her family."
The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court is expected to last two weeks.The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court is expected to last two weeks.