Jury out in trial of man accused of beach murder

The jury in the trial of a man accused of stabbing two women on a beach - killing one of them - has been sent out to consider its verdicts.

Amie Gray, 34, died, and 38-year-old Leanne Miles was seriously injured in the attack on Durley Chine Beach in Bournemouth on 24 May.

Nasen Saadi, 20, from Croydon, denies charges of murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Jurors have retired to deliberate after a nine-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.

On Monday, the court was told Mr Saadi would not be giving evidence from the witness box, and Charles Sherrard KC, defending, did not give any further evidence.

Speaking to the jury earlier, Mr Sherrard said: "Burning in your head no doubt ... was that question of 'why didn't he give evidence?'."

He added: "That is his right."

Mr Saadi, a criminology student, had carried out internet searches for "Bournemouth CCTV" and "Is Bournemouth beach open all night" just days before the murder took place, the court previously heard.

Since January, "How sharp are kitchen knives?", "Why is it harder for a criminal to be caught if he does it in another town?" and "What hotels don't have CCTV in UK?" had also been looked up on his laptop.

Giving a "whistle-stop tour" of his internet search history, Mr Sherrard asked the jury whether it was just "a series of random, bizarre, unusual searches" or whether it told them he was guilty of murder.

Mr Sherrard added: "Remember, he did actually pass his course."

Several purchases of knives had also been made from Mr Saadi's computer, Dorset Police previously revealed - one of which, Mr Sherrard said, had not been found.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue told the jury the knife used in the attack had a single sharp edge.

"That one, whatever's happened to it, has two blades," Mr Sherrard said, adding: "None of them have been used for the killing."

He said Mr Saadi had been an "easy investigatory target" because of his "fascination" with knives.

CCTV footage shown to the jury captured Mr Saadi travelling from Croydon to the Travelodge hotel in Bournemouth on 21 May, and staying at a nearby guesthouse from 23 May, the court heard.

He left Bournemouth at about 09:00 BST on 25 May - the morning after the attack - the prosecution said.

"Don't you think the person that would commit such horrific acts would leg it, rather than still be there in the morning?" Mr Sherrard said.

"The question for you is whether Nasen Saadi was the killer or whether there was another person."

On the night of the attack, Ms Gray and Ms Miles had lit a fire and were sat on the beach together, the court was previously told.

CCTV footage showed Mr Saadi walking up and down the promenade before stepping onto the sand and attacking the women, prosecutor Sarah Jones KC said.

The jury also listened to women's screams captured by another camera at the moment of the stabbings.

Ms Gray was pronounced dead at the scene following CPR.

The court heard paramedics had initially found her to be not breathing and "cold to the touch", the court heard.

The football coach from Poole died from multiple stab wounds to her chest and arm, including one to her heart, the jury was told.

Her friend, Ms Miles, was taken to hospital with 20 stab wounds to her chest and back.

Knives and self-defence spray were found in a bedroom at Mr Saadi's home after his arrest on 28 May, the court heard.

Police also seized a blue Trespass rucksack which contained white latex gloves - two of which were inside out - as well as a black balaclava, a torch, used wet wipes and a packet of tissues, the prosecution said.

He pleaded guilty to failing to give the police access to his mobile phone after he refused to disclose his passwords.

In footage of a police interview on 31 May, previously shown to the court, Mr Saadi told detectives he was not the man seen in CCTV on the night of the attack.

"I am not responsible and I have no reason to attack someone for no reason," he said

"You haven't found a murder weapon, you haven't found the trousers, the bag," he added.

Ms Jones, prosecuting, previously said Mr Saadi "seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life".

The trial continues.

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