This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/7232324.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Suffolk defendant gives evidence Suffolk defendant gives evidence
(10 minutes later)
A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk has begun giving evidence at his trial.A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk has begun giving evidence at his trial.
Steve Wright, 49, is expected to take three days giving his account after the defence opened its case at Ipswich Crown Court.Steve Wright, 49, is expected to take three days giving his account after the defence opened its case at Ipswich Crown Court.
The bodies of Paula Clennell, Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Annette Nicholls and Tania Nicol were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006.The bodies of Paula Clennell, Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Annette Nicholls and Tania Nicol were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006.
Mr Wright, from Ipswich, denies killing the women who worked as prostitutes.Mr Wright, from Ipswich, denies killing the women who worked as prostitutes.
Their naked bodies were found at remote locations around the town over a 10-day period.Their naked bodies were found at remote locations around the town over a 10-day period.
'Unsteady on feet''Unsteady on feet'
Defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006.Defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006.
Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell.Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell.
Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?"Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?"
Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was."Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was."
Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had when he had "become under stress".Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had when he had "become under stress".
The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and had had problems. The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and came over faint and passed out.
"When I was in the witness box giving my evidence, I found the whole experience very stressful and frightening and I just came over all faint and I passed out," Mr Wright said. Mr Langdale told the court that jurors would hear details of Mr Wright's background and how he came to be in Ipswich.
Mr Langdale told the court that jurors would hear details of Wright's background and how he came to be in Ipswich.
The defendant said he was born in Norfolk and after his parents divorced he was brought up by a mixture of his father, mother and grandparents.The defendant said he was born in Norfolk and after his parents divorced he was brought up by a mixture of his father, mother and grandparents.
Due to his father's work abroad, as an RAF policeman, he had been educated in Malta and Singapore as well as England.Due to his father's work abroad, as an RAF policeman, he had been educated in Malta and Singapore as well as England.
'Made bankrupt''Made bankrupt'
Mr Wright said he left school at 16 with no qualifications and began working in a hotel in Suffolk and then joined the Merchant Navy when he was 17.Mr Wright said he left school at 16 with no qualifications and began working in a hotel in Suffolk and then joined the Merchant Navy when he was 17.
Various jobs in the leisure industry followed before he met his first wife, whom he was with for seven or eight years, when he was working on the QE2. He worked on the QE2 for about six years, during this time he met his first wife.
After being made redundant by the Merchant Navy, Mr Wright worked in various pubs before he got into financial difficulties.After being made redundant by the Merchant Navy, Mr Wright worked in various pubs before he got into financial difficulties.
Around this time, he went to Thailand for about 10 weeks and came back in further financial trouble.Around this time, he went to Thailand for about 10 weeks and came back in further financial trouble.
Mr Wright said: "Because of the jobs I had, I wasn't paid very much. My father suggested I made myself bankrupt to get rid of the debts that way.Mr Wright said: "Because of the jobs I had, I wasn't paid very much. My father suggested I made myself bankrupt to get rid of the debts that way.
"When I made myself bankrupt, that took most of the pressure off me really.""When I made myself bankrupt, that took most of the pressure off me really."
Agency work followed, and Mr Wright, who had been based in Levington near Ipswich, moved to Nacton shortly after.Agency work followed, and Mr Wright, who had been based in Levington near Ipswich, moved to Nacton shortly after.
The trial continues.The trial continues.