Sex girl deaths trial is opened

Jan 15 2008 By Mark Bulstrode, Sam Marsden and Brian Farmer

A JURY has been selected to hear the trial of a former pub landlord accused of murdering five prostitutes, including one from the North-East.

Steve Wright, 49, of Ipswich, Suffolk, denies murdering Berwick-born Paula Clennell, 24, as well as Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

A total of 114 potential jurors were whittled down to 24 after being asked whether they knew the victims or witnesses in the case.

Twelve of them – 10 men and two women – were then sworn in and will form the jury for the trial.

The potential jurors had to fill in a questionnaire asking whether they knew the victims or some of the witnesses in the case, or had connections to certain occupations or the media.

The judge, Mr Justice Gross, told the 12 jurors that they must ignore any media reports they read or saw about the case and must not do their own research.

He said: "Do not try to obtain information elsewhere – for example, on the internet – about the case or any matters which are raised in the course of the trial."

Wright arrived at Ipswich Crown Court in a prison van flanked by two police cars as a BBC TV helicopter buzzed overhead.

He spoke only to confirm his name and listened to the lawyers’ discussions of administrative tasks during yesterday’s hearings.

Wright’s father Conrad and half-brother Keith sat in an annex, but none of the families of the victims attended.

The prosecution, led by barrister Peter Wright QC, is expected to open its case tomorrow, with the trial due to last for at least six weeks.

The five dead women were found at remote locations near Ipswich during a 10-day period in December 2006. They all worked as prostitutes in the town.

Detectives launched an inquiry after Miss Nicol vanished on October 30, 2006.

Just over two weeks later, Miss Adams was reported missing after going to work in Ipswich’s red-light district. Her body was discovered in a brook at Hintlesham on December 2, 2006.

Six days later, Miss Nicol’s body was found in water in the nearby village of Copdock.

The body of Miss Alderton, who had not been reported missing, was found in woodland at Nacton on December 10, 2006.

And on December 12, 2006, the bodies of Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls were found in woodland at Levington.

Wright was charged late on December 21, 2006, two days after being arrested at the home he shared with his partner Pam Goodman, a call centre worker.

He is accused of murdering Miss Nicol between October 29 and December 9, 2006, Miss Adams between November 13 and December 3, 2006, Miss Alderton between December 7 and December 11, 2006, Miss Nicholls between December 7 and December 13, 2006, and Miss Clennell between December 9 and December 13, 2006.

He pleaded not guilty to the five murder charges at a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court in May 2007.