16/12/2003

Soham murder jury sent home for third day

The jury at the Old Bailey trial into the deaths of two 10-year-old Soham schoolgirls has been sent home today after their third day of deliberations.

The jury has now spent 17 hours considering their verdict since Mr Justice Alan Moses closed his summing up on Friday morning.

Ian Huntley, 29, denies murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman on August 4 last year. He has admitted one charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Maxine Carr, 26, Mr Huntley's former girlfriend, denies a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and two charges of assisting an offender.

Before dismissing the jury, Mr Justice Moses directed them to decide upon the evidence presented and not to be ruled by emotions, the intense media coverage or be overawed by the gravity of the trial. He also told the jury that they must return a unanimous verdict.

"Unless you are all agreed, there are no verdicts at all," he said.

Mr Huntley has admitted that he was responsible for the death Jessica Chapman. He told the court that Jessica died after he placed a hand over the girl's mouth to stop her from screaming.

In his testimony, Mr Huntley said that Holly had drowned after accidentally falling into the bath and banging her head.

He further admitted to burning the girls' bodies in a ditch and disposing of their clothes. However, Mr Justice Moses told the jury such an admission was not evidence of murder.

Ms Carr has admitted to making misleading statements to police but only to protect her "very controlling" boyfriend. However, she denies helping her former boyfriend in the full knowledge that the deaths had occurred in the house they shared together.

(gmcg)

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