08/02/2008

Wright 'Singularly Unfortunate' In Picking Up Prostitutes

The man accused of the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich has told a court that he could have picked up all of the women on the nights that they disappeared.

Steve Wright, 49, told Ipswich Crown Court that he may have had sex with four of the women on the nights that they vanished, but denied having any involvement in their deaths.

He agreed with Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, that he had been "singularly unfortunate" in picking up prostitutes in the area.

The bodies of Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29 and Tania Nicol, 19, were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006.

On Friday, Mr Wright told the court that it was "quite possible" that he had picked up Miss Nicol on October 30, 2006 - the night she disappeared - but denied having sex with her.

He also said that he might have had sex with Miss Adams in his car on either November 14 or November 15, 2006. She was last seen in the town's red light district on November 14.

The jury was also told that Mr Wright's car was captured on security camera technology on December 3 - the night that Miss Alderton vanished.

Mr Wright also told the court that he could not remember when he picked up Miss Nicholls, but admitted that it could have been on December 8 2006, when she was last seen alive, and he also admitted picking up Miss Clennell around the time of her disappearance - December 10.

Mr Wright's DNA was allegedly found on three of the women's bodies, while blood from both Miss Nicholls and Miss Clennell was found on one of his jackets. Fibres from his home or car were also found on the bodies of all five women.

Mr Wright told the court that he did not know how fibres linked to him came to be on the body of Miss Adams. He also said he did not know how the blood from Miss Nicholls came to be on his jacket. He also told the court that he did not know how Miss Clennell's blood got on his jacket, but said that she had bitten her tongue while laying down on a sofa in his house.

The court heard how Mr Wright and his partner, Pam Wright had moved into a flat in Ipswich's red light area on October 1, 2006 and that Mr Wright had begun picking up prostitutes in the area in the third week of that month.

The trial continues.

(KMcA)


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