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Accomplice theory in murders case Accomplice theory in murders case
(10 minutes later)
A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk may not have been working alone, a jury has been told.A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk may not have been working alone, a jury has been told.
Steve Wright, 49, denies killing Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls.Steve Wright, 49, denies killing Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Annette Nicholls.
The court was told that the five women went missing in Ipswich between October and early December in 2006. The women, who went missing during six weeks in 2006, worked as prostitutes to fund drug addictions, the court heard.
The women had drug problems and worked as prostitutes to fund their addiction, the court heard. Two of their bodies were found in the same brook while another two were found placed with their arms outstretched.
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said: "In each of their cases this decision was ultimately to prove fatal. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the decisions by the women to turn to prostitution "was ultimately to prove fatal".
"In the 10 days that elapsed from 2 December to 12 2006, their bodies began to turn up.""In the 10 days that elapsed from 2 December to 12 2006, their bodies began to turn up."
Arms outstretchedArms outstretched
The naked bodies of two of the victims - Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls - had been left with arms outstretched in a "cruciform shape", the jury was told.The naked bodies of two of the victims - Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls - had been left with arms outstretched in a "cruciform shape", the jury was told.
Miss Alderton's body was found in woodland near Nacton on 10 December while Miss Nicholls' body was found near Nacton on 12 December.Miss Alderton's body was found in woodland near Nacton on 10 December while Miss Nicholls' body was found near Nacton on 12 December.
The women were all found dead on the outskirts of IpswichThe women were all found dead on the outskirts of Ipswich
Mr Wright said of Miss Alderton: "In all likelihood she had been murdered elsewhere and her body abandoned and her body left posed in this isolated spot."Mr Wright said of Miss Alderton: "In all likelihood she had been murdered elsewhere and her body abandoned and her body left posed in this isolated spot."
Evidence showed Miss Nicholls had been murdered and her body abandoned shortly after she was last seen alive on 8 December, the court heard.Evidence showed Miss Nicholls had been murdered and her body abandoned shortly after she was last seen alive on 8 December, the court heard.
The prosecutor earlier said Miss Nicol and Miss Adams were the first to go missing.The prosecutor earlier said Miss Nicol and Miss Adams were the first to go missing.
He told the jury: "We say the circumstances of their disappearance, the location at which their bodies were found, the condition of the bodies and the manner of their deaths will lead you to the conclusion that their deaths were, in fact, no coincidence.He told the jury: "We say the circumstances of their disappearance, the location at which their bodies were found, the condition of the bodies and the manner of their deaths will lead you to the conclusion that their deaths were, in fact, no coincidence.
"Rather the work of the defendant, either alone or with the assistance of another.""Rather the work of the defendant, either alone or with the assistance of another."
Body trappedBody trapped
Miss Nicol's naked body was found in a stretch of water known as Belstead Brook on 8 December.Miss Nicol's naked body was found in a stretch of water known as Belstead Brook on 8 December.
The body was trapped in debris in the water close to a bridge.The body was trapped in debris in the water close to a bridge.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Miss Nicol's body but a definite cause of death was not found, the court heard.A post-mortem examination was carried out on Miss Nicol's body but a definite cause of death was not found, the court heard.
Mr Wright told the jury, made up of nine men and three women, that the pathologist felt it was more likely that she had been dead when she entered the water.Mr Wright told the jury, made up of nine men and three women, that the pathologist felt it was more likely that she had been dead when she entered the water.
The jury heard the last possible sighting of Miss Nicol was on 30 October.The jury heard the last possible sighting of Miss Nicol was on 30 October.
Mr Wright said: "She was in an area of Ipswich often frequented by prostitutes and their clients."Mr Wright said: "She was in an area of Ipswich often frequented by prostitutes and their clients."
Pattern emergesPattern emerges
He said the next prostitute to disappear was Miss Adams, last seen on the evening of 14 November 2006 or early the next day.He said the next prostitute to disappear was Miss Adams, last seen on the evening of 14 November 2006 or early the next day.
Her naked body was the first to be found, on 2 December, in the same brook further upstream towards Hintlesham.Her naked body was the first to be found, on 2 December, in the same brook further upstream towards Hintlesham.
Mr Wright said a post-mortem examination on Miss Adams' body was also inconclusive.Mr Wright said a post-mortem examination on Miss Adams' body was also inconclusive.
He added: "But, we say, a pattern was beginning to emerge."He added: "But, we say, a pattern was beginning to emerge."
Steve Wright, of Ipswich, was charged with the murder of all five women on 21 December 2006.Steve Wright, of Ipswich, was charged with the murder of all five women on 21 December 2006.
A new jury is hearing the case after the first jury was discharged when one member reported health problems.A new jury is hearing the case after the first jury was discharged when one member reported health problems.