Man accused of helping hide body parts of Becky Watts 'was used'

A man accused of helping to move the body parts of Becky Watts was used in a “callous and calculating way”, his barrister told a jury.

Nathan Matthews, 28, allegedly suffocated his 16-year-old stepsister in a sexually motived kidnap with his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21.

Becky’s body was moved from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, and dismembered in the couple’s bath in Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, with a circular saw.

Her remains, packed into suitcases and a plastic storage box, were discovered in a garden shed 80 metres away by police on March 3.

Karl Demetrius, 30, who owned the shed, and his work colleague Jamie Ireland, 23, moved the suitcases there with Matthews in the early hours of February 24.

A jury of 10 women and one man heard closing speeches for Ireland and Karl Demetrius’s twin brother Donovan Demetrius in Becky’s murder trial, following 21 days of evidence.

Sean Hammond for Ireland, who denies assisting an offender, told jurors: “He is a decent man, never been in trouble before.

“Those who known him best say he would rather run a mile than get involved in criminal matters.

“He has been used. Karl Demetrius, in a callous and calculating way, took advantage of Jamie Ireland.

“He knew he had difficulties, he knew he wouldn’t ask questions. He knew that Jamie would accept what he told him.

“As a result, unwittingly Jamie transported suitcases and a storage box containing Becky Watt’s body.

“He told you how upset and distraught he was when this was made clear to him, that was a genuine reaction.

Here's what the jury must take into consideration to get to their verdicts. #beckywatts https://t.co/Brgg5rKAnJ

— ITV Becky Trial (@ITVBeckyTrial) November 9, 2015

“He had no idea what he had done until the police told him. He never even met or heard of Nathan Matthews before the 23 and 24 of February.”

Mr Hammond said his client had “no reason” to assist Matthews, get involved in criminal activity or think that a robbery had been committed.

Prosecutors allege that Ireland was offered £5,000 to help Matthews and believed that he had committed a robbery, or was handling stolen goods.

The court heard Matthews promised Demetrius £10,000 to help him move the suitcases and storage box on the night of February 23.

Demetrius, who drives a moped, asked Ireland to give Matthews and Hoare a lift from her mother’s home in Southmead, Bristol, that night.

The three men then returned to Demetrius and Ireland’s work in Filton, where they were on a night shift, to pick up a van.

Ireland, who suffers from ADHD and autism, was informed that Matthews had been kicked out of Hoare’s terraced home.

Matthews and Demetrius packed suitcases and the storage box by torch light, while Ireland waited in the hallway.

“Firstly he picked him up with his girlfriend and then goes back and they are filling ordinary suitcases, nothing at all to make alarm bells ring in his mind,” Mr Hammond added.

“It is clear Jamie Ireland is the sort of man who would take at fact value, wouldn’t question, wouldn’t examine the other circumstances.”

They then went to Barton Court, where Demetrius lived, and packed the items into his shed.

Mr Hammond said Demetrius had “no intention” of telling Ireland the truth or offering him a share of the £10,000.

Court has broken for the day - the judge is half way through his summing up and will continue tomorrow morning. #beckywatts

— ITV Becky Trial (@ITVBeckyTrial) November 9, 2015

Text messages between Demetrius and his partner, Jaydene Parsons, were sent while Ireland was driving.

At 1.06am, Parson texted: “all done xxx?”

Demetrius replied: “not yet babe”

She then wrote: “ah ok you going to hide it for him we could do with the money lol xxx”

Later, Parson sent Demetrius: “cool that’s a deposit on a house lol xxx”

The barrister disputed that Ireland was in debt and said he believed he would be paid between £20 and £40 for his help that evening, not a large payout.

Dean George, for Donovan Demetrius said the suggestion his client helped Matthews was “baffling” and said there was no evidence to support it.

Demetrius earned his money by hard work and it was a “very cheap assertion” that he would become involved for financial gain, he added.

Matthews, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, South Gloucestershire, denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap.

He admits killing Becky, perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Hoare, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, denies murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Karl Demetrius, 30, and his partner Jaydene Parsons, 23, the occupants of the Barton Court property, admit assisting an offender.

Donovan Demetrius, of Marsh Lane, Bristol, and James Ireland, 23, of Richmond Villas, Avonmouth, deny the charge.