Lab Worker Who Strangled Co Worker Had Warned Her About His Oddities Court Heard

Finally, on August 6, Mr McCullum invited Ms Newborough to his home while his parents were out for the night. The prosecutor told the court: “The Crown’s case is that between approximately 8.15pm and 8.50pm … the defendant, Ross McCullum, murdered Megan Newborough at his home address in Coalville, Leicestershire. “The Crown’s case is that the violent manner of Megan’s death leaves no doubt that the accused intended to do so.” Mr McCullum showed Ms Newborough into the front room and at some point in the next few minutes “attacked her with great violence”. He first strangled her, then cut her throat repeatedly with a knife, jurors said. The accused told police after his arrest that he cut her throat to “make sure” she was dead, the court heard. Ms Newborough had driven home in a Citroen C3, which Mr McCullum then used to move her body – throwing her phone on the way into a patch of undergrowth near Woodhouse Eaves, where he dumped her remains. He allegedly left Ms Newborough voicemails and texted her after the alleged murder to cover his tracks, the court heard. Mr Cammegh told jurors: “As I mentioned to you, the defendant accepts he killed Megan but denies murder. “You might be wondering what his defense is. In essence he is saying that he was incapable, either through a temporary loss of control or an abnormality of the mind, of forming the intention to kill her or to do her actual serious harm. “Given this defence, you may wish to consider the relevance of the defendant’s conduct from the time he strangled Megan, throughout the night that followed and into the next day. “The Crown’s case is that the defendant immediately began a series of deliberate actions that were carefully calculated and executed to cover up Megan’s murder and his role in it. “The Crown says that this conduct conclusively reveals that he was not momentarily struck by an irresistible wave of emotion or some other infirmity of mind, committing a terrible act under difficult circumstances, but that he was a cunning and resourceful murderer.” The trial continues.