Jury retires in woodland grave murder trial

A jury has retired to consider its verdict over the murder of a women whose body was dumped in a woodland grave.

Warwick Crown Court heard the neighbour of Reanne Coulson's alleged killer had heard her screaming and crying for help and called 999.

Mohammed Durnion denies the 33-year-old's murder, claiming she died from an overdose after a brief argument at his flat in Paynes Lane, Coventry, in May.

Prosecutors allege the defendant, 42, killed Coulson in a sudden and deliberate attack and then invented a mental health crisis following the arrival of police minutes after the 999 call.

Jurors heard officers entered and searched his home but did not find Coulson's body, which was believed to have been hidden under a mattress.

Her body was allegedly removed from the flat by Durnion the day after police left on 21 May, and found near a bridleway in Binley Woods more than five weeks later.

Opening the case at the start of the trial, prosecutor Timothy Cray said Coulson, a sex worker, disappeared after attending a church support group.

Summing up the evidence on Thursday, Judge Kristina Montgomery reminded jurors of evidence given by Durnion and his co-defendant Adam Moore.

Moore, 39, of Marlcroft, Willenhall, Coventry, denies assisting an offender on 22 May by helping to dispose of Coulson's body.

Durnion, the judge said, had told the court he was "off my head" on drugs and not thinking straight when police arrived.

According to Durnion, the court heard, he went into a room to let Coulson know police had arrived, only to find her surrounded by drug equipment, including a needle.

The alleged killer also said he had put Coulson's body in a suitcase, drove to the woods and buried it for fear he would be held responsible.

Moore claims to have visited Binley Woods for about 30 minutes to look for Durnion, but said he had no involvement in disposing of the body and did not leave a path near the site where she was left.

In her final comments to jurors, Judge Montgomery said she could only accept a unanimous verdict from them.

The jury deliberated for about an hour on Thursday and will resume their discussions on Friday.

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