THE jury in an ongoing murder trial has visited the scene where a couple allegedly murdered and dismembered a man.
Debbie Pereira, 39, and Benjamin Atkins, 49, are facing trial at Winchester Crown Court following the alleged murder of 49-year-old Simon Shotton.
Mr Shotton’s severed legs were found in packages at Manor Steps zig zag off Boscombe Overcliff Drive on August 26 last year.
Pereira and Atkins were arrested for his murder after enquiries revealed they had sold his phone to Cash Creators for £15.
Mr Shotton’s arms were later found in the garden of the defendants’ flat at 18B Aylesbury Road, his headless torso in a suitcase in Boscombe Chine Gardens, and fragments of his skull in Walpole Lane.
On Monday morning, the 12 jurors along with the judge and barristers from the trial were taken by coach to see 18B Aylesbury Road for themselves.
Prosecutors Paul Cavin KC and Sam Barker say Mr Shotton was murdered at this location by both of the defendants on the morning of August 18.
The jury was shown the garden where Mr Shotton’s arms were found, and the utility room, where prosecutors allege Mr Shotton was dismembered with a saw.
When the jury returned to court on Monday afternoon, they heard a statement from Justin Witt who was formerly employed at Wilko in Boscombe's Sovereign Centre.
It is alleged Atkins and Pereira stole a hacksaw from the store on August 19, with the court previously shown CCTV footage of Atkins in Christchurch Road with a ‘saw dangling from the handle bars of his bike'.
Mr Witt confirmed in his statement, provided on September 6, that he was shown this footage.
- Read more: Victim in Bournemouth murder trial was dismembered with hacksaw
He said: "I can confirm that the red handled saw the male in the picture is holding is the same saw we stock in the store."
Mr Witt added that a stock check had taken place at Wilko, and one of the saws was missing and was believed to have been stolen in the 'last month'.
Atkins has admitted to charges of perverting the course of justice, and preventing the burial of a corpse, but denies murder.
Pereira denies perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse, and murder.
The trial continues.
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