Jenny murder trial hears two versions of events

11:09am Wednesday 13th February 2008

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TWO explanations for the disappearance of shop worker Jenny Nicholl were presented to a jury yesterday.

The prosecution and defence have concluded their closing speeches at the trial of unemployed father-of-two David Hodgson for Jenny's murder.

James Goss QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Teesside Crown Court that Jenny was murdered by Mr Hodgson after the pair went camping together at the end of June 2005.

Mr Goss said: "When Jenny said goodbye to her mother that afternoon, she was not intending to leave Richmond.

"She fully intended to be back the next day.

"The prosecution cannot say where or the circumstances of how she met her death.

"But we can say there can be no reasonable doubt she met her death at the hands of this defendant.

"He murdered her and disposed of her body in a place he knew she would never be found."

Mr Goss said the accused had lied and changed his story to accommodate the evidence.

He said Mr Hodgson had made up claims Jenny was being abused by her father to shift the blame for her disappearance.

He also said the defendant had attempted to suggest the teenager was still alive by sending texts from her phone and inventing stories about her getting in touch after he killed her.

He said Mr Hodgson had tried to take his life in July 2005 after "the pressure of what he had done became too much".

Jamie Hill QC, in defence, suggested that without a body or a crime scene, the jury could not be sure Jenny was dead.

He said the 19-year-old had several reasons to run away, the biggest being her father.

He said: "If she was being abused, that may be a very strong reason for someone to run away, and what is more, change their name."

He conceded his client was a liar, but said: "Just because someone may lie, it does not necessarily mean that person is a murderer.

"It may mean he was the biggest fool in Richmond, it may mean he is someone you would not trust, but that is a long way from concluding that someone is a murderer."

Mr Hill said there was no evidence to support prosecution claims that the defendant was a jealous man prone to outbreaks of violence.

Mr Hodgson was described as "not a particularly good man, nor a particularly bad man".

Mr Hill said: "I am not asking you to give him a clean bill of health as a person, I am simply suggesting there is enough doubt for you not to convict him."

Mr Hodgson, 48, of Olav Road, Richmond, denies murdering Jenny on or around June 30, 2005.

The judge is expected to begin his summing-up of the evidence tomorrow.

The jury will then retire to consider its verdict.

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