A girl murdered a churchgoer and dumped her headless corpse greater than 200 miles away earlier than forging her will in an try to inherit her property, a courtroom has been informed.
Jemma Mitchell, 38, had killed 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong and stuffed her physique inside a blue suitcase which she dragged across the streets of London for 2 hours as CCTV captured her actions, the Old Bailey heard.
Mitchell had allegedly failed in a bid to extract £200,000 from Ms Chong to pay for repairs to her dilapidated residence in Willesden, northwest London.
After Ms Chong modified her thoughts in regards to the money present, Mitchell killed her and disposed of her stays throughout a 500-mile spherical journey to Salcombe in Devon in June 2021, the jury was informed.
She then set about forging a will on her laptop so she might inherit the majority of Ms Chong’s wealth, the prosecution claims.
The pretend will was uncovered in a search of the defendant’s residence, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC mentioned.
Ms Chong’s real will – leaving her home to her church with the rest to household and charity – was discovered on the sufferer’s residence in Wembley, the courtroom was informed.
Ms Heer informed jurors: “The motive is clear: money.”
The prosecutor alleged Mitchell killed Ms Chong on 11 June 2021 on the sufferer’s residence – after taking a big blue suitcase along with her.
Ms Heer went on: “Having killed or at least fatally injured the deceased, she needed to get rid of her body and so she removed it in the blue suitcase.”
Ms Heer mentioned at 1.13pm on 11 June, Mitchell was caught on digital camera strolling from Ms Chong’s residence with a suitcase that seemed to be “a lot heavier” than when she arrived.
She was additionally pulling one other suitcase, belonging to Ms Chong, which allegedly held paperwork referring to her monetary affairs.
Mitchell was captured on CCTV dragging the luggage on the road and thru a grass verge for 2 hours earlier than being picked up by a minicab.
In that point, jurors heard, she had referred to as numerous cab corporations 9 instances earlier than a driver collected her for the 40-minute journey residence.
She was dropped exterior her subsequent door neighbour’s home after which transferred the suitcases from the driveway to her residence, it’s claimed.
The defendant then allegedly employed a automotive on 26 June final 12 months.
‘Unusual odor’
Mitchell picked up the rental Volvo and was caught on CCTV stowing the massive blue suitcase within the boot earlier than setting off for the South West, it’s alleged. The automotive was seen on CCTV at a storage in Malborough.
The footage confirmed one tyre was “shredded”, jurors had been informed. Mitchell borrowed a buyer’s telephone to name a restoration agency. The repairman seen baggage within the boot but it surely didn’t match the outline of the blue suitcase.
Ms Heer mentioned the repairman opened a again door and seen an “unusual smell – sort of musty and damp”.
The automotive was seen on CCTV in a while close to the spot the place the physique was dumped, jurors heard.
It is claimed that Mitchell arrived again at her London residence the following day with the blue suitcase.
Holidaymakers discovered decapitated physique
Ms Chong’s decapitated physique was discovered by holidaymakers shortly earlier than 5pm final 12 months on 27 June, and her cranium was found in close by undergrowth a number of days later.
A autopsy examination revealed a damaged cranium attributable to “significant blunt force” and 20 rib breaks “most likely” inflicted earlier than loss of life.
Police recovered the blue suitcase from the highest of a neighbour’s shed, with checks matching blood on a tea towel inside a pocket to the sufferer’s DNA, it was claimed.
In a bed room was the pretend will, which purported to go away 95% of Ms Chong’s property to the defendant for her home mission and 5% to Mitchell’s mom, the courtroom additionally heard.
Mitchell has denied homicide, claiming the loss of life had nothing to do along with her. The trial continues.
Source: information.sky.com”