"Body in a suitcase" murder trial day four - live updates

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  • Three people are accused of murdering Boscombe man Geoffrey Reed.
  • Stuart Raymond Wareham, 26, of Cecil Road, Boscombe, Benjamin Henry Walter, 22, and Lee Raymond Wareham, 33, both of no fixed address, are accused of murdering Mr Reed, 57, in Bournemouth between June 6 and June 14 last year
  • Mr Reed,a convicted sex offender, went missing from his flat in Cecil Road. His remains were discovered in an area of woodland off Huntick Road, Lytchett Matravers, north of Poole.
  • Timothy Mousley QC and Simon Jones prosecute.
  • Stuart Wareham is represented by Ian Lawrie QC and Timothy Bradbury.
  • Lee Wareham is represented by Oba Nsugbe QC and Rebecca Fairbairn.
  • Benjamin Walter is represented by David Mason QC and Andrew Baker.

2:55pm

That's it for today. More at 10.30 tomorrow 

2:54pm

She said the grave had been dug in a hurry- the suitcase fitted "snugly"

2:50pm

She spotted a number if things that indicated recent interference and disturbance to the ground. She excavated part of the sure and spotted one end of the suitcase. She made an incision into the outer cover- Aldi plastic bag inside that and then she saw the back of a human head

2:45pm

Statement from Gail McKinnon, forensic anthropologist and archaeologist. Asked to assist in search and recovery. Attended 8.30am, June 13. She was informed that area if interest had been positively indicated by recovery dogs

2:38pm

Video of the site off Huntick Road being shown now 

2:34pm

Hearing from officer who took dog to the site in Huntick Road. He spotted a site which looked unusual- disturbed ground and vegetation placed on top of the soil off the main path. Dog indicated this was a site where human remains could be buried

2:27pm

DS found a well-concealed shed. In it were a pair of white trainers and a black and white jacket among other items 

2:17pm

Lot of talk now a out what's where in Boscombe. All about location of a shed near Shelley Cottage

2:09pm

Det sgt David Richards giving evidence. He arrested lee Wareham at a Parkstone fish and chip shop on June 12

1:00pm

Court is breaking for lunch

12:51pm

Stuart was calm and relaxed when he was taken to custody suite. He told officers he had wanted to see his favourite wrestling show on Challenge that night and wondered how long he'd be there for 

12:43pm

PC Matt Morris now giving evidence. He arrested Benjamin on susp of murder. He said "he was very nervous. He appeared agitated - his leg was bouncing uncontrollably. He filled any silence with inane chatter about the weather". When he arrested Benjamin, PC Morris said he just looked "absolutely dejected" but did not speak 

12:38pm

Police officer said Stuart showed no reaction when he was arrested- "he did not make any comment, did not look shocked, surprised or confused. He just sat in silence looking forward"  

12:36pm

CID went to flat to check for evidence etc. while they were there, Stuart and Benjamin appeared on foot and told police they lived there. Stuart said he last saw Geoff about a week ago- said he'd gone to stay with a friend 

12:31pm

Stephen picked him up and Stuart and Benjamin spent the day there before going back to Boscombe 

12:30pm

Statement from Stuart's stepfather Stephen Cutler. Stuart text him on June 10 to ask if he could come and pick him up. He said "I'm going mad here and I need to get away"

12:26pm

Pc Daniel Walsh attended the church yard and spoke to Daniel and Tiffany. He said they seemed panicked and paranoid. He took them to police station to speak to CID

12:18pm

He said "we've not told any if our family. We've done this because we know we need to be put away somewhere because of how much we know"

12:16pm

Daniel talking incredibly quickly. He says Lee and Stuart have only been back in contact for a very brief time- he tells police "I think Stuart has been saying going for Geoffrey to Henry's (Benjamin) brother or Benjamin's brother..."

12:11pm

He says he heard lee talking to stuart: "I heard the brother asking Stu "where us it buried" "at his nan's or near his nan's field""

12:09pm

He says he one of the suitcases was gone and that's how he knows. He says "Geoffrey's disappeared and the suitcase has disappeared". Asks for officer to come and see him in the church yard

12:08pm

Asked again about whether he physically saw the body, he says "no". He says "we want to be safe. As long as we're safe"

12:06pm

When asked if he saw the body he says "I think so- I think so"

12:05pm

He said "because if they think we know we're going to be next". He says he's actually seen the body in the suitcase

12:03pm

Daniel called the police from St Michael's church in Poole Road. He is talking very fast- saying "all these things keep coming together, little things that just keep popping up, fee know its definitely happened there and in the building we live in"

11:38am

Technical troubles- court taking short break

11:36am

Recording of call Daniel Anderson made to police on June 10 last year to be played. Call is about 23 mins long

11:33am

Raymond doesn't have any real contact with his son lee- last time they really spoke was at least three years ago, he said. His evidence is now done

11:32am

Raymond dropped both Stuart and Benjamin off at the bus station in Poole after picking tthem up from Stuart's nan's in Lytchett

11:25am

Lee is Sarah's ex-husband's son but she doesn't ever see him. Sarah is done with her evidence. Raymond Wareham, lee and Stuart's dad, up next

11:23am

In June last year, Stuart was seeing Sarah most Sundays for a visit, usually with Benjamin. Stuart asked his mum for a lift home from his nan's on June 7 but she couldn't take him and his dad ended up picking them up instead

11:19am

Stuart's mum Sarah Skinner is up now

11:16am

He saw them carrying shovels and said Benjamin looked very serious 

11:15am

He owns a workshop on the farm and saw Stuart and Benjamin allegedly on their way back from burying Mr Reed

11:12am

That's Jean's evidence done with. Next up statement of Gary Gladwin 

11:05am

They asked to borrow tools to bury the dog and went off for about 20 mins or so. CCTV images of Benjamin and Stuart on the farm being shown

10:55am

Stuart visited Jean's home with Henry saying one of his dog had died and he needed to bury it. Jean said "I gave him a big lecture about keeping too many dogs"

10:52am

Between then and June last year, his grandmother only saw hhim about six to eight times

10:51am

Stuart lived in a caravan on the land for about 5 years. He moved away in the middle of 2010 to Winton

10:49am

First witness today is Jean Skinner, the Wareham's grandmother. Mr Reed was buried on land belonging to her

9:58am

Good morning. Day four of the trial is due to get underway at 10.30 this morning 

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