Becky Watts' Body 'Cut Up With Power Saw'

The stepbrother of Becky Watts has admitted killing her but denied murder in a crime the prosecution claim had a sexual motive.

Nathan Matthews, 28, pleaded not guilty to murder at Bristol Crown Court but a jury has been told he admits killing the 16-year-old, saying he tried to kidnap and imprison her before suffocating her.

Becky's body parts were found in bags and suitcases - some wrapped in cling film - in a shed along with a circular saw, duct tape and cleaning liquids, the court heard.

Matthews' girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 22, has denied all of the charges against her, including murder.

He claims to have acted alone and has denied conspiring to kidnap her.

The prosecution told the court Becky died as a result of a plan by Matthews and Hoare to kidnap her, motivated by their "apparent dislike of Rebecca Watts" and a sexual interest in "attractive teenage females".

The teenager went missing from her home in St George, Bristol on 19 February.

Her body parts were discovered on 2 March.

Opening the case, prosecutor William Mousley QC said that Becky was killed in her bedroom on 19 February, adding: "She was suffocated, despite her fighting for her life.

"There followed a deliberate, carefully planned and grotesquely executed plan to cover up her killing."

The prosecution claims that after her death, Becky's body was cut up with a knife and power saw, with the parts then being packed and moved to prevent them being found.

A pathologist confirmed she had been repeatedly stabbed after her death.

Stained clothing, bin liners, empty bleach bottles, cleaning spray, scourers and broken pieces of an iPhone were found hidden in a shed.

DNA from both Matthews and Hoare was discovered on face masks that were allegedly used during the dismembering of the body.

Mr Mousley told the court that an expert had concluded that it was "easier to carry out that exercise if more than one person had been involved".

Mr Mousley went on: "The police investigation led to the discovery of evidence which suggested that there was a sexual motive behind the intended kidnap/imprisonment.

"Evidence was found on telephones, computers and computer-related equipment connected to both Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare which showed a shared sexual interest in teenage and petite girls.

"Also found at their home were two stun guns, which were prohibited weapons and which may have been intended for the use in the planned kidnap."

Becky died at some point between 11am and the early afternoon and her body was put in the boot of Matthews' Vauxhall Zafira car before his mother Anjie Galsworthy returned home from a hospital appointment.

Mr Mousley said CCTV footage showed Matthews and Hoare driving home to Cotton Mill Lane shortly before 7pm, with a child captured on camera sitting in the rear of the car.

They then ordered a Chinese takeaway from Laws Kitchen - where Matthews worked - before settling down to watch the television for the night.

"All normal behaviour, other than they had a dead body on their hands," Mr Mousley said.

Karl Demetrius, 29, and his girlfriend Jaydene Parsons, 23 have pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, but they maintain they "did not know or believe" that bags they helped move contained Becky's body.

Donovan Demetrius, 29 - Karl's twin brother - and James Ireland, 23, both deny assisting an offender.