Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2003 For anyone who doesnt know, this is the ongoing courtcase of Jessica(9) and Holly(10) who were found brutally murdered, its a weird case. Girls 'died in Huntley's bathroom' Ian Huntley is accused of murdering Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells Holly Wells died after accidentally falling into Ian Huntley's bath, his lawyer told the Old Bailey Soham trial. Jessica Chapman also died after Mr Huntley covered her mouth with either one or both his hands to stop her screaming, Stephen Coward QC said. The girls had gone into Mr Huntley's bathroom so he could help Holly with a nosebleed, Mr Coward told the court. Mr Huntley denies murdering the 10-year-old girls, who disappeared on 4 August 2002. Holly's parents Kevin and Nicola, as well as Jessica's mother Sharon were in the court to hear the first airing of Mr Huntley's version of events. Mr Coward - who gave Mr Huntley's account as he cross-examined a forensic expert - said the girls sat on either side of the bath, which had 18 inches of water in it as Mr Huntley planned to bath his dog. Mr Coward said: "Mr Huntley was getting pieces of tissue or toilet paper, putting them under the cold tap to cool them and handing them to Holly. "On one of his turns from getting the wet tissue he slipped and it seems that he may well have banged into her as she was sitting on the edge of the bath, and she went backwards. IAN HUNTLEY'S ADMISSIONS' Holly and Jessica went into 5 College Close shortly after 1830 BST on Sunday 4 August Jessica's mobile was switched off at 1846 BST Ian Huntley treated Holly for a nosebleed in his bathroom Ian Huntley accidentally knocked Holly into the bath Jessica stood up and started screaming Ian Huntley put his hands over Jessica's mouth to stop her screaming Jessica fell to the ground Ian Huntley looked for signs of life in both girls Holly and Jessica had died in the bathroom The only other person present in the house was Ian Huntley Ian Huntley removed the dead bodies and transferred them in his Ford Fiesta to the place they were found "He has no recollection of a bang, but he does remember a splash." Mr Coward then told the court that Holly's fall into the bath had caused her friend to start screaming. "Jessica stood up and started screaming 'You pushed her, you pushed her'. "And he then turned towards Jessica and either with one hand or two, he's not sure, put his hands out towards Jessica, his memory is over her mouth, to stop her screaming. "For how long he was in that position he can't say. "But he was then conscious that Jessica was no longer supporting herself on her feet. "He let go and she went to the ground. He then turned round to the bath and Holly was lying in the bath, apparently dead. "He lifted Holly out of the bath, put her on the floor, looked for signs of breathing and found none. "He turned his attention to Jessica, he looked for signs of breathing and found none." The jury had previously heard only that Mr Huntley was "unlikely to deny" that the girls had died in his house while he was alone with them or that he had disposed of their bodies. Earlier the court heard from the Home Office pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examinations on Holly and Jessica gave evidence. Dr Nathaniel Carey said he had been unable, at Addenbrooke's hospital, in Cambridgeshire, to establish the cause of the girls' deaths because of the state their bodies were in when they were found. These were two fit, healthy young girls Dr Nathaniel Carey However, he was able to exclude the possibility that they had died from natural causes. "These were two fit, healthy young girls," he said. When asked his opinion of the defence account of the girls' deaths, he said he could not do so immediately as it had never been suggested to him before. He said: "I'm slightly concerned that this is the first I have heard of quite a detailed scenario. "I might consider such a scenario, had it been put earlier, with forensic scientists who had examined the scene, the bathroom, and the clothing. "I don't think I can give it fair credit otherwise." Trial judge Mr Justice Moses gave Dr Carey permission to discuss the scenario with other experts provided their names and details of the discussions were put before the court. He will continue his evidence on Wednesday. In other evidence, botany witness Patricia Wiltshire said that during her examination of the red Ford Fiesta, samples from underneath the car matched soil samples from the place where the bodies were found. Ms Wiltshire said she and colleague Peter Murphy had inspected a 100m area around the site near Lakenheath, and taken samples. One of the aims was to determine exactly whether or not the accused had been there, and if so, where he had stood. Also, when she studied the pedals of the car, there had been some transference of spores. Mr Huntley denies murdering the girls, who disappeared in August 2002. But he admits conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Miss Carr denies helping an offender and conspiring to pervert the course of justice. The case was adjourned until Wednesday morning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zorin Industries 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2003 Normally, I don't like to comment on murder cases till i've heard all the evidence but i'm convonced Huntleys guilty as sin. The prosecution evidence thus far has been very strong and this seems to be the best Huntley has to offer, he's clearly grasping at straws. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist Report post Posted November 27, 2003 I agree on the guilty as sin part Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nacho Nixon Report post Posted November 27, 2003 One tragic coincidence, maybe. A whole series of them like this? Not likely, or even (reasonably) within the realm of possibility. You only need to consult Occam's Razor here in terms of Huntley's account of events. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zorin Industries 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2003 If it wasn't such a serious situation I would laugh. It reminds me of that Python sketch where Eric Idle kills everyone by accident Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2003 Ha, I'd forgotten about that sketch, its just a weird case, apparantly he slapped Maxine Carr silly twice, once cos the TV was on the wrong channel, and the second time cos they had run out of Muesli, it seems like he has/had a grip on her. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anorak 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2003 Strange how some cases get so much national headlines for weeks and months on end while others are only covered on local news. There's another court case being heard in Leicestershire at the moment about 3+ people (I think around half a dozen were involved indirectly) accused of beating, torturing and murdering a 14 year old boy whose body parts were found in a canal. I've no wish to hear the details of this horrible case but it struck home to me how the tabloids and national news deliberately 'select' the murder cases they will follow from beginning to end. I can't see any jury buying Huntley's defence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshjerichomark 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2003 One accident could be possible but the two? This kinda reminds me of the end part of "Of Mice and Men" He's guilty for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
