Thu, 28 Apr 2016
A court heard that a woman from the Black Country who was drugged, raped and murdered was found by the police.
Steven Beards and his wife, Julie Beards are both accused of murdering Susan Whiting, 20. Both deny the charges.
The 20-year-old from Walsall, was discovered with a fractured skull, wrists bound and a plastic bag over her head.
Gareth Evans QC said that Ms Whiting had been invited to have dinner and stay the night by Mrs Beards in August 2015, when she was drugged.
Gareth Evans QC said: “They killed her by hitting her on the head with a blunt object, probably this hammer and by compressing her neck.
"Why she was killed remains a mystery. Was it all about sex or was it a grudge also being settled?"
It was heard that Ms Whiting was a friend of Julie Beards, but it seemed that Beards resented that Ms Whiting had other friends and that their friendship was cooling.
A post mortem conducted found that Ms Whiting’s head had been struck three times and traces of Zoplicone was found in a blood sample.
The trial continues.
To read the full story reported by the Express and Star please click here.
Gareth Evans QC and Sharon Bahia are both part of the Criminal Law Group at No5 Chambers.
