FOLLOW our live blog of the Nikitta Grender trial with our reporters sending updates from 10.15am today.

Pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender was found dead at her Lliswerry home after a fire in February last year.

Carl Whant, 27, of no fixed address, stands accused of the rape and murder of Miss Grender on February 5 last year. He is also accused of arson and child destruction. He denies all the charges.

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Read @ArgusAChalk's write up of today's evidence at the #nikitta trial in tomorrow's @southwalesargus Thu Feb 02 17:18:49 2012

#nikitta trial adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10am Thu Feb 02 16:07:57 2012

Follow me for live coverage from the #nikitta trial from 10am Fri Feb 03 09:36:50 2012

Read @ArgusAChalk's write up of today's evidence at the #nikitta trial in tomorrow's @southwalesargus Thu Feb 02 17:18:49 2012

#nikitta trial adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10am Thu Feb 02 16:07:57 2012

At no time during the time he spent with Whant that night did he see him involved in any fights or with any injuries, jury told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 16:07:29 2012

He went to The Greyhound on Feb 4, think it was around 11.30pm, and saw Whant #nikitta Thu Feb 02 16:04:50 2012

He is a friend of Whant and Ryan Mayes #nikitta Thu Feb 02 16:03:57 2012

Witness statement of Gerald Samuels is being read by prosecution #nikitta Thu Feb 02 16:03:29 2012

Junior def counsel Jeff Jones suggests there was more than one incident in the pub that night. Mrs Webb doesn't recall others #nikitta Thu Feb 02 16:00:00 2012

Webb: did not record the incident because both men agreed it was no problem and there was no fight #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:58:47 2012

Webb: there was a minor incident, but not a fight, around 9pm between two men about a spilled drink #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:56:44 2012

Webb: was working on the bottom bar around 7.30pm #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:53:48 2012

End of Mr Hopkins' evidence. Next witness is Jill Webb she was working at The Greyhound pub on Feb 4 to early hours Feb 5 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:52:49 2012

Hopkins: Saw Whant at the door around midnight and he looked annoyed. Like he was waiting for someone who hadn't shown up #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:47:32 2012

Hopkins: There was an incident involving an Asian man in the pub around midnight #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:45:28 2012

Def counsel Jeff Jones suggests Mr Hopkins is wrong about this #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:44:44 2012

Hopkins: saw Whant walking through The Greyhound around 8.30pm to 9pm that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:44:13 2012

Hopkins: only when there are fights or people are injured would I log it in the incident book #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:43:29 2012

Hopkins: told police in statement it was a very busy in the pub that night and there were several bust ups #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:42:36 2012

Hopkins: wasn't aware of Whant being involved in any kind of incident that night. Did not see any injuries on him #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:40:45 2012

He was working on the evening of Feb 4. He knew Whant and remembers speaking to him that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:39:36 2012

Next witness is The Greyhound doorman James Hopkins #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:38:34 2012

Next witness is The Greyhound doorman James Hopkins #Newport Thu Feb 02 15:37:58 2012

Whant has a "bad stammer", court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:36:01 2012

Andrews: don't recall logging anything in the incident book that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:35:15 2012

Def counsel Jeff Jones suggests Mr Andrews is mistaken about that #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:34:40 2012

Next witness is The Greyhound doorman James Hopkins #Newport Thu Feb 02 15:37:58 2012

Whant has a "bad stammer", court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:36:01 2012

Andrews: don't recall logging anything in the incident book that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:35:15 2012

Def counsel Jeff Jones suggests Mr Andrews is mistaken about that #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:34:40 2012

Andrews: told police in a statement Whant was at The Greyhound between 8.30pm ad 9.30pm on Feb 4 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:33:41 2012

Andrews: gave statement to police on March 9, 2011 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:30:32 2012

Andrews: do not recall any incidents after midnight that night. Do not remember any involving Whant #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:28:11 2012

Andrews: duty that night would have been to respond to help out with any incidents in the pub #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:27:32 2012

He was working at The Greyhound pub on the evening of Feb 4 into the early hours of Feb 5 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:26:33 2012

End of Mr Clissett's evidence. Next witness is doorman Robert Andrews #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:25:47 2012

Clissett: have little recollection of the night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:24:23 2012

Junior def counsel Jeff Jones asks if incidents at the pub would be recorded in a log book. Mr Clissett says yes #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:24:08 2012

Court shown CCTV still of Mr Clissett and Whant standing next to each other at the door of The Greyhound that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:22:00 2012

Clissett: said in police statement that he had no recollection of seeing Whant that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:20:31 2012

Clissett: gave statement to police on Feb 11, 2011 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:19:45 2012

Clissett: can't remember any incidents at the pub that night. And none involving Whant #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:18:44 2012

Clissett: all the time I was at The Greyhound I stood outside with the doormen #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:17:09 2012

Clissett: was using crutches that night as had hurt my knee #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:15:33 2012

Clissett: was there from around 12.15am to 2.30am on Feb 5 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:14:38 2012

Clissett: had been working as a doorman at The Page pub on the evening of Feb 4 and went to The Greyhound after work #nikitta Thu Feb 02 15:13:31 2012

#nikitta trial resumes. Next witness is doorman Scott Clissett Thu Feb 02 15:11:05 2012

Court adjourned for break #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:49:03 2012

Williams: was not asked to look at any footage captured at other times #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:47:18 2012

Williams: was only asked to look at footage when Whant was in the pub from midnight #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:46:23 2012

Footage shown to the jury is a compilation of images captured that night, court hears #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:45:20 2012

Footage shown to the jury is a compilation of images captured that night, court hears #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:45:20 2012

There are 14 cameras covering the public areas of The Greyhound, jury told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:44:31 2012

Defence counsel Jeff Jones to cross examine the witness #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:43:45 2012

Williams: according to footage viewed Whant doesn't appear to have been involved in any altercations in the pub #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:41:53 2012

Williams: he arrived around midnight and left just after 00.30am #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:39:41 2012

Williams: footage shows Whant entering the pub on High Street before going to talk to bouncers at its Cambrian Road entrance #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:37:24 2012

Williams: I have looked at this video carefully a number of times #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:35:20 2012

CCTV shows Whant's movements both inside and outside The Greyhound pub #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:25:25 2012

Footage shows him with friends including Ryan Mayes #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:12:03 2012

Whant can be seen in the footage wearing a black jacket #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:10:49 2012

Jury are being shown CCTV footage from the pub. It's 25 minutes long #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:10:05 2012

Williams: the time on CCTV cameras in The Greyhound was two minutes and two secs behind real time #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:08:14 2012

Williams is talking the jury through the floor plan #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:06:53 2012

Williams: went to the pub and obtained a floor plan of the premises. Copies of floor plan have been given to the jury #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:03:14 2012

Williams: examined CCTV footage taken from The Greyhound pub #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:01:01 2012

She works as a support officer to the major incident team at Gwent Police #nikitta Thu Feb 02 14:00:11 2012

#nikitta trial resumes. Next witness is Eleri Williams Thu Feb 02 13:58:58 2012

#nikitta trial breaks for lunch. Starting back at 2pm Thu Feb 02 12:58:55 2012

Dr Mitchell's evidence is completed #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:55:58 2012

Mitchell: when carrying out examination we document all marks and injuries on the body #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:54:32 2012

Mitchell: couldn't say if the scabs and the bruise injuries were caused at the same time #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:53:28 2012

Def Mr Kinch QC: as far as injuries go the red mark is a minor one. Not one that someone would have to be aware they sustained #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:49:44 2012

Mitchell: there was also a curved red raised mark on Whant's upper right arm #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:46:42 2012

Mitchell: cannot comment on the scabs, only that they appear consistent with the time Whant said he got them 4 days earlier #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:44:49 2012

Mitchell: the brushing was at least 18 hours old because of its colouring #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:43:53 2012

Mitchell: there was two marks in the same area of the bruising but can't say if they were caused at the same time #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:42:33 2012

Mitchell: elbow bruising on right arm was 5cm by 4cm in size #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:40:19 2012

Dr Mitchell is talking the jury through the injuries in the photos being shown to them #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:39:41 2012

Mitchell: there were injuries to right arm. Bruising and scabs on forearm and also a raised red area #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:38:34 2012

Mitchell: took swabs, hair and nail samples from him #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:37:29 2012

She examined Whant at the police station #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:36:47 2012

Next witness is Dr Jane Mitchell #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:36:28 2012

Mr Phillips' evidence is complete #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:35:33 2012

Phillips: took notes of the injuries so I could inform the investigating team #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:24:53 2012

37 photographs were taken of Whant that day, court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:22:12 2012

Def counsel Mr Kinch QC is now cross examining #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:17:46 2012

Jury shown photos of Whant taken at police station #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:03:45 2012

Phillips: Whant suggested the red marks on his wrists were from 'cuffs' #nikitta Thu Feb 02 12:00:44 2012

Phillips: the first one I noticed was the bruise near the right elbow. Next was red marks above the wrist #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:58:04 2012

Phillips: made a note of Whant's injuries #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:56:25 2012

He took photographs of Whant at Ystrad Mynach Police Station on Feb 9, 2011 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:54:40 2012

End of Rachel Bird's evidence. Next witness is crime scene investigator Martin Phillips #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:53:38 2012

Bird and Whant have had their ups and downs in their relationship but there was never any violence between them, the court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:52:03 2012

Bird: red marks near Whant's wrist first caught her eye #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:47:09 2012

Bird: found it when taking the washing out of machine #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:43:25 2012

Bird: Gave police Whant's jacket and trousers on Feb 6. Searched for the shirt but couldn't find it #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:42:56 2012

Bird: noticed the red mark on Whant's shirt when putting it in a washing machine #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:41:39 2012

Bird: put the washing on before they went to bed that night on Feb 5 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:38:55 2012

That evening Whant changed his clothes, made a curry then went and had a bath, court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:37:42 2012


That evening Whant changed his clothes, made a curry then went and had a bath, court told #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:37:42 2012

Bird: both upset about #nikitta's death and comforted each other Thu Feb 02 11:31:32 2012

Bird: Didn't take much notice of the marks on Whant's arms. Only later that night did they talk about it #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:30:50 2012

First thing they talked about was the fire at #nikitta's flat, jury hear Thu Feb 02 11:29:54 2012

Whant had been at his mum's before meeting Miss Bird in Newport city centre on Feb 5, court hears #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:29:24 2012

Defence counsel Christopher Kinch QC is now starting to cross examination of Miss Bird #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:27:28 2012

Bird is showing the jury where on the shirt she noticed the mark #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:26:08 2012

Bird is being shown the shirt #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:24:43 2012

Bird: noticed a red/orange mark on the back, inside of the shirt Whant was wearing that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:22:56 2012

Bird: Asked Whant why emergency services took so long to get to #nikitta's flat at 7.50am if the fire started at 5am Thu Feb 02 11:20:46 2012

Bird: told Whant about this when he retuned home and pointed out this was around the time Ryan phoned her and Whant was missing #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:18:37 2012

Bird: saw a Sky news report which stated the fire at #nikitta's flat had started at 5.30am. Whant was being interviewed by police at time Thu Feb 02 11:17:24 2012

Bird: knew that police wanted it and the police came and took it on Feb 7 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:16:10 2012

Bird: police came around on Feb 6 to take Whant's clothes. Shirt couldn't be found as it was in the washing machine #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:15:09 2012

Bird confirms they are the marks she saw on Whant's arms on Feb 5 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:14:25 2012

Jury being shown photograph of Whant's arm and hands taken by police. It shows red marks and yellow bruising #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:14:00 2012

Bird: later drew a picture for the police detailing where she saw the marks on Whant's arm. Jury being shown the picture #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:11:13 2012

Bird: thought marks on Whant's arms might have been caused by him being with another girl #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:09:58 2012

Bird: he said he took that route because he was trying to avoid police as he had been out drinking #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:08:19 2012

Bird: he didn't say if he had got any, but told her the way he drove to get there #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:06:55 2012

Bird: asked Whant where he had been when Ryan called looking him. He told her he went to nan's house for cigarettes #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:06:08 2012

Bird: Whant had a bath. Put his clothes by washing machine and asked her to wash them #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:05:11 2012

Bird: noticed marks on Whant's arms. He told her he had been an altercation with a man and a girl the night before #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:04:19 2012

Bird: he said it couldn't have been #nikitta because Ryan was with another girl Thu Feb 02 11:03:16 2012

Bird: told Whant about the phone call in the early hours that day from Ryan and told him assumed the girl on phone was #nikitta Thu Feb 02 11:02:48 2012

Bird: heard #nikitta had died in a fire Thu Feb 02 11:01:42 2012

Bird: Whant asked me if I had heard what happened at #nikitta's flat. I asked if it was anything to do with a drug dealer. He said no Thu Feb 02 11:01:30 2012

Bird: Whant's mum rang me to tell me about the fire at #nikitta's flat. Ryan Mayes mum had told her Thu Feb 02 11:00:33 2012

Bird: next time saw Whant on Feb 5 in Newport city centre, got in his car and saw the curry ingredients on the floor #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:59:40 2012

Bird: the call was around 5.20am #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:55:59 2012

Bird: the girl put Ryan Mayes on the phone who asked if Whant was there. Told him no #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:51:14 2012

Bird: was woken up by a telephone call but missed it. Called the number back and a girl answered #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:49:49 2012

Bird: waited until 1am Feb 5 but he did not come home. Called him but no answer so went to bed #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:49:00 2012

Bird: spoke to him at 5pm that evening and Whant said he was going to take a friend to Cardiff to watch rugby and then return home #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:48:17 2012

Bird: gave Whant money for ingredients to make the curry that morning but he didn't come home that evening #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:47:02 2012

Bird: had planned to have a curry and watch the rugby with Whant on evening of Feb 4 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:46:17 2012

Bird: do not remember seeing any marks on Whant's arms on Feb 3 or 4 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:45:00 2012

Bird: next saw Whant on the afternoon of Feb 5 outside Wilkinson's shop in Newport city centre. He was wearing the same clothes #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:44:01 2012

Bird: the shirt, trousers, jacket and shoes he was wearing that day were later given to the police #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:42:07 2012

Bird: can't say when I last washed the shirt but ironed it for him to go to work that morning #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:41:21 2012

Bird: he went to work the next day wearing a blue shirt. Court is shown the shirt #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:40:11 2012

Bird: he went out afterwards but came back to stay at her house that night #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:38:23 2012

Bird: went out to celebrate aunt's 60 birthday on Feb 3. Whant had gone to work that day and was to meet her for the party #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:37:46 2012

Bird: Did all Whant's washing. He didn't did any of his own #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:35:36 2012

Bird: I didn't trust him 100 per cent when he went out, in case he was with another girl. Would always text him when he was out #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:34:08 2012

Bird: Allowed police to examine phone records #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:33:16 2012

Bird: the pair were both based at the Newport office of Anglian Windows where they worked #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:31:49 2012

Bird: they worked together, would go out drinking and driving around Newport together. Sometimes would go to the gym together #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:30:26 2012

Bird: Whant and Ryan Mayes were really close, always together #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:29:32 2012

Bird: never liked Ryan Mayes, thought he was a bad influence on Whant #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:28:50 2012

Bird: never went to #nikitta's flat Thu Feb 02 10:28:23 2012

Bird: one time the four of them - Ryan, Whant, #nikitta and her, met to go driving around Newport Thu Feb 02 10:28:01 2012

Bird: didn't really know #nikitta only met her around three or four times Thu Feb 02 10:26:34 2012

Bird: knew Ryan Mayes through Whant #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:26:02 2012

Bird: Whant was "brilliant" with the couple's son Lucas, who turns 2 today #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:25:38 2012

Bird: Whant stayed most nights at her home in Bettws. But he lived with a friend near the city centre #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:24:18 2012

Bird: was in a relationship with Carl Whant. Met him August 2009 #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:22:29 2012

First witness today is Whant's girlfriend Rachel Bird #nikitta Thu Feb 02 10:20:06 2012

At Newport Crown Court with @ArgusAChalk today for #nikitta murder trial. Follow me for live coverage from 10.15am Thu Feb 02 09:47:41 2012