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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#nikitta trial finished for today. Starting again on Tuesday morning. See @ArgusAChalk's full write up in tomorrow's @southwalesargus
Fri Feb 03 16:32:29 2012
Daniel Matthews' evidence has finished #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:31:31 2012
Kinch: I think your memory of all this isn't quite as sharp as you first suggested when you were asked about this #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:31:08 2012
Kinch says information Matthews gave in a number of police statements are not consistent with each other, court hears #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:24:14 2012
Kinch: in a later statement you mentioned you had left them out but didn't explain why #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:12:24 2012
Matthews: no reason. Just didn't mention them #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:11:38 2012
Kinch: when you told the police about what had happened you said it was just the four of you, you didn't mention the girls. Why? #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:11:19 2012
Matthews went with Whant to the police station to make a statements on Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:08:49 2012
Matthews: drank larger, vodka, wasn't keeping count how many. I knew what I was doing #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:06:36 2012
Def counsel Christopher Kinch QC is cross examining, asking Matthews how much he had to drink that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:05:57 2012
Matthews: In Corelli Street, Whant parked his car facing the river. The next morning it was parked facing the opposite direction #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:04:15 2012
Matthews: Whant did not have any injuries on his arms nor did he complain that he had been in a fight that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:00:38 2012
Matthews went with Whant to the police station to make a statements on Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:08:49 2012
Matthews: drank larger, vodka, wasn't keeping count how many. I knew what I was doing #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:06:36 2012
Def counsel Christopher Kinch QC is cross examining, asking Matthews how much he had to drink that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:05:57 2012
Matthews: In Corelli Street, Whant parked his car facing the river. The next morning it was parked facing the opposite direction #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:04:15 2012
Matthews: Whant did not have any injuries on his arms nor did he complain that he had been in a fight that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 16:00:38 2012
Matthews is taking the jury through CCTV stills and pointing out the people in them #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:59:17 2012
He was with them and other friends on the evening of Feb 4 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:56:13 2012
Next witness is Daniel Matthews, friend of Ryan Mayes and Whant #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:54:31 2012
McClaren: I didn't think it was relevant #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:51:26 2012
Kinch: you told police that if Whant ever tried anything on with you, you would punch him, when the truth was you had sex with him #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:50:34 2012
Kinch: you knew this was a serious investigation and you signed the statement to say it was true #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:47:57 2012
McClaren: I didn't want to admit it #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:46:11 2012
Kinch: when you were first asked by the police you denied you had ever had sex with Whant. Why? #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:45:59 2012
Kinch: I suggest to you, you had sex with Whant after you had sex with Ryan in the living room of the house in Corporation Road #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:44:35 2012
McClaren: it happened when me and Ryan were not together #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:43:08 2012
McClaren: no other occasions that we had sex #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:41:55 2012
McClaren: previously had sex with Whant twice #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:41:32 2012
Next witness is Ryan Mayes' former girlfriend Laura McClaren #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:39:45 2012
End of Ryan Mayes' evidence #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:39:01 2012
Jury shown photo of Whant getting petrol at the Shell garage on Malpas Road before they went to Ryan Mayes' flat on Feb 4 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:36:51 2012
Mayes: no that's not true #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:30:35 2012
Kinch: the fact is you were hoping that something would happen between you but you are not prepared to admit it #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:30:27 2012
Mayes: never said anything to her to suggest wanted anything more than friendship #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:29:36 2012
Mayes denies this and claims it was a bit of flirting at the most #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:27:16 2012
Mayes denies this and claims it was a bit of flirting at the most #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:27:16 2012
Kinch is suggesting Mayes wanted a fling with Elizabeth Taylor that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:26:19 2012
Mayes: I wasn't thinking straight that day #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:24:37 2012
Kinch: do you have something to hide? #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:23:42 2012
Kinch is accusing Mayes of lying to police about where people were in the Corelli Street house that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:23:23 2012
Kinch: you knew the police wanted to know what all the people in the group had been doing that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:21:33 2012
Court hears Ryan Mayes was arrested at Broadmead Park on Feb 5 on suspicion of arson #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:19:48 2012
Mayes: it's not true #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:18:51 2012
Kinch: I'm going to suggest you are wrong about that and it did happen #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:18:17 2012
Mayes: no that's not true. He's a liar. He's never been with any of my girls. I'm not into that #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:16:26 2012
Kinch: I suggest this has happened before with another partner #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:14:25 2012
Mayes: no that's not true #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:13:31 2012
Kinch: I suggest you called Whant in and said he could have sex with #nikitta and he did while you ironed your shirt
Fri Feb 03 15:13:24 2012
Kinch: I suggest you and #nikitta had sex while Whant was in the flat #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:12:36 2012
Mr Kinch is now asking Mayes about the evening on Feb 4 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 15:10:43 2012
Court taking a short break #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:57:00 2012
Mayes: I remembered which way we came back from town #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:55:07 2012
Kinch: how do you go from "I don't know" to knowing which way it was facing? #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:54:47 2012
Mayes: I couldn't remember then but can now #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:53:35 2012
Kinch: in statement given to police last April you say you can't remember which way the car was facing. Why? #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:53:17 2012
Kinch: I suggest to you that Whant's car was facing the same way it had earlier. Mayes: No #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:50:06 2012
Mayes: when he came back I heard the car pulled up outside and let him in. He didn't bang the door more than twice #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:45:54 2012
Mayes: I wasn't keeping an eye on the time #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:43:52 2012
Kinch: first of all you told police Whant had been away from Corelli Street for 30 mins #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:43:18 2012
Mayes: I didn't know what we were involved in. I thought it was just a fire #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:40:26 2012
Mayes: I didn't know what we were involved in. I thought it was just a fire #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:40:26 2012
Mayes: my head was everywhere on Feb 5. I was saying anything and everything #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:39:55 2012
Kinch: statement says you told police phone call to Rachel was 20 to 30 mins after Whant left for nan's house #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:38:28 2012
Mr Kinch is asking Mr Mayes to look at the witness statement he gave police #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:35:30 2012
Mayes: I am clear in my mind that I phoned Rachel 30 to 40 mind after Whant left Corellia Street to go to his nan's house #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:33:04 2012
Mayes: was with Whant the whole time in The Greyhound pub. We weren't away from each other for longer than 2 mins #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:29:40 2012
Mayes: never saw a towel in the bathroom with blood stains on it #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:27:50 2012
Mayes: the outside door of the flat has a two-fold lock #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:25:24 2012
Mayes: had flings with other girls when not with #nikitta. There was some overlap between Laura McLaren and #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:22:03 2012
Def counsel Christopher Kinch QC is now cross examining #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:20:03 2012
Mayes: #nikitta never suffered any injury causing her to bleed in any way in the weeks leading up I get death
Fri Feb 03 14:19:31 2012
Mayes: the bedroom door in flat used to have coats, dressing gown or bags hung over it #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:16:41 2012
Mayes: then headed to my flat in Broadmead Park #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:15:14 2012
Mayes: he went in, was in there about 5 mins and came out with cigarettes. #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:14:46 2012
Mayes: headed with Whant to his nan's house #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:14:18 2012
Mayes: noticed Whant's car was parked facing the opposite direction to how it had been parked earlier #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:12:31 2012
Mayes: we left the house about 7.15am to 7.30am on Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:11:41 2012
Mayes: he said he couldn't wake his nan up to get any #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:10:58 2012
Mayes: asked him where he had been and why he didn't have any cigarettes #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:10:15 2012
Mayes: he returned about 30 to 40 mins after I phoned Rachel #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:09:36 2012
Mayes: I thought he had gone to another girl's house #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:08:56 2012
Mayes: Whant was talking about getting cigarettes #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:03:11 2012
Mayes: a man came to the house to bring more drugs. Didn't know him #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:02:45 2012
Mayes: some of us took more drugs #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:02:07 2012
Mayes: at a friend's nan house in Corelli Street the group started drinking vodka #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 14:01:39 2012
#nikitta trial resumes. Ryan Mayes' evidence continues
Fri Feb 03 14:00:51 2012
#nikitta trial adjourned for lunch, starting again at 1.55pm
Fri Feb 03 12:55:39 2012
Mayes is describing the route they took to get there #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:51:57 2012
Mayes: at the end of the night we all got into Whant's car and went to Corelli Street #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:50:27 2012
Mayes: was upstairs in Revolution night club with Whant. We all danced #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:43:20 2012
Mayes: did not see any injuries on Whant's arms that night. He did not tell me that he had been involved in any argument #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:40:45 2012
Jury being shown CCTV stills of some of the friends returning to the pub after they had left to take cocaine #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:39:20 2012
Mayes: didn't see Whant take his jacket off in The Greyhound #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:33:24 2012
Mayes is talking the jury through the photos and explaining who is in them #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:32:51 2012
Mayes: did it around the corner or in the car #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:27:15 2012
Mayes: the group stayed together but some people left to take cocaine. I was one of them #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:26:43 2012
Another photo shown to jury show the friends inside The Greyhound pub #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:25:52 2012
Also shown photos of the group in Revolution night club #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:24:16 2012
Jury shown CCTV photos of the group of friends walking in city centre at 11.37pm on Feb 4 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:23:45 2012
Mayes: we then went into the city centre. Whant drove and parked in Market car park. Then went to The Greyhound pub #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:20:29 2012
Mayes: some of the group took cocaine at the pub #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:19:07 2012
Mayes: met friends there as well as girls I was meeting for the first time #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:17:59 2012
Mayes: went to my mum's house to watch the first half of the rugby. Then went to The Star pub #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:17:01 2012
Mayes: went to Tesco with intention of stealing alcohol and buying ingredients for a curry #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:16:03 2012
Mayes: Whant said he would wait in the car as I finished getting ready #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:14:50 2012
Mayes: #nikitta didn't come out of the bedroom. There was no conversation at all between her and Whant. Not even hello or goodbye
Fri Feb 03 12:13:48 2012
Mayes: Whant was in the kitchen smoking. We both smoked as I ironed my clothes #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:12:49 2012
Mayes: asked her how she was and told her was going out. #nikitta was on the bed because she was having pains from the baby kicking her
Fri Feb 03 12:12:17 2012
Mayes: #nikitta was led on the bed wearing shorts, a top and a dressing gown
Fri Feb 03 12:11:03 2012
Mayes: Whant came with me into the flat #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:10:21 2012
Mayes: went back to the flat to get changed about 6.15pm that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:10:04 2012
Mayes: made plans with Whant to watch the six nations rugby that night #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:09:13 2012
Mayes: went to a burger van for breakfast before starting work canvassing for Anglian Windows #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:08:34 2012
Mayes: Feb 4 waited for Whant to pick me up. He picked me up morning. He wouldn't come in the flat. They would beep when outside #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:07:46 2012
Mayes: #nikitta had a bath every day. Sometimes at 1am or 2am, she would have one everyday at any time #
Fri Feb 03 12:06:39 2012
Mayes: had sex with #nikitta on the morning of Feb 4
Fri Feb 03 12:05:08 2012
Mayes: the couple had active sex life even when she was pregnant #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 12:04:10 2012
Mayes: phoned #nikitta to let her know I was on way home so she knew to let me in. She looked out window I check it was me
Fri Feb 03 12:03:19 2012
Mayes: #nikitta got out the car with no shoes on, they talked, she give him a kiss, got back in the car and they drive off
Fri Feb 03 12:02:13 2012
Mayes: we went driving to Matalan car park that evening and Jenna and #nikitta turned up
Fri Feb 03 12:01:06 2012
Mayes: went back to mum's house and #nikitta was picked up by her friend Jenna Allman. I waited for a lift from Whant
Fri Feb 03 12:00:09 2012
Jury shown CCTV of the shopping trip to BM Stores #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:58:41 2012
Mayes: on Feb 3 I went shopping with #nikitta, mum and two brothers
Fri Feb 03 11:57:45 2012
Mayes: on Feb 3 Whant was driving a Ford Focus #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:56:43 2012
Mayes: I worked there with Whant who had worked there longer than me #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:56:15 2012
Mayes: Whant drove a big five-seater car through work with Anglian Windows #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:55:54 2012
Mayes: #nikitta would sometimes come out with me and Whant
Fri Feb 03 11:54:46 2012
Mayes: they would not talk to each other much. Would be a hello or goodbye #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:54:21 2012
Mayes: sometimes #nikitta wouldn't let him in the flat
Fri Feb 03 11:53:51 2012
Mayes: #nikitta didn't like Whant. Think she was jealous I spent a lot of time with him. She didn't like what he was about
Fri Feb 03 11:53:32 2012
Mayes: would tell him things no one else knows. We had a close bond #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:52:32 2012
Mayes: would tell him things no one else knows. We had a close bond #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:52:32 2012
Mayes: he was like a brother to me. Could speak to him about anything. Closer to him than any of my friends #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:52:07 2012
Mayes: Whant is my cousin. Have bothered with him since age of 13 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:51:32 2012
Mayes: I was around for every appointment, everything was fine #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:50:43 2012
Mayes: "over the moon" at pregnancy, so was she #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:50:33 2012
Mayes: kept ourselves to ourselves and stayed strong #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:50:21 2012
Mayes: relationship was much better when moved into Broadmead Park #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:49:45 2012
Mayes: the flat door must be locked with a key. Not automatic lock #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:49:24 2012
Mayes: would sometimes socialise together, other times with own friends #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:48:39 2012
Mayes: lost my set of keys to Broadmead Park flat so #nikitta would have to let me in
Fri Feb 03 11:48:19 2012
Mayes: #nikitta fell pregnant when they were living in Corporation Road
Fri Feb 03 11:47:24 2012
Mayes: later decided to give it another go and moved in together in Corporation Road, before moving to Broadmead Park #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:46:42 2012
Mayes: me and #nikitta started living together when 16 but it didn't work and she moved back to her parents #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:45:09 2012
Mayes: no further relationship with Laura when I was with #nikitta. But still friends now
Fri Feb 03 11:43:54 2012
Mayes: on/off relationship with her before I settled down with #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:43:13 2012
Mayes: lived with Laura when aged 16 for around five months #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:42:49 2012
Mayes: had 6 month relationship with another girl Laura McLaren when aged 12 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:41:28 2012
Mayes: when not seeing each other I saw other girls #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:39:53 2012
Mayes: she was a good looking girl people liked her, people liked me we split up before realising we wanted each other #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:39:36 2012
Mayes: we had our ups and down, we were young #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:39:00 2012
Mayes: first met #nikitta when 13. We were friends first then started relationship
Fri Feb 03 11:38:41 2012
#nikitta trial resumes. Boyfriend Ryan Mayes is next witness
Fri Feb 03 11:35:20 2012
Court taking a short break first #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:19:46 2012
Next witness is #nikitta's boyfriend Ryan Mayes
Fri Feb 03 11:19:15 2012
Rees: officers went to the auto centre office to obtain the CCTV but could not get it #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:16:24 2012
Rees: this view was only visible when the footage was enlarged #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:15:18 2012
Rees: when looking at the footage it was apparent the view showed both directions of Queenshill Road #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:13:32 2012
CCTV cameras on the premises show inside the building and the forecourt but not the road, court told #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:12:05 2012
He was asked to look into why no CCTV disk could be obtained from Queenshill auto centre, Newport #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:11:07 2012
Mr Rees is an assistant enquiry officer at Ystrad Mynach police station, working for the major incident team #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:09:37 2012
End of Johanna Rafferty's evidence. Next witness is David Rees #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:07:35 2012
Rafferty: Recorded vehicles which came onto the roundabout and noted which exit they took from around 3am to 3.36am #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 11:03:08 2012
Rafferty: highlighted two vehicles matching that description on Newport's old green roundabout in early hours of Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:53:49 2012
Rafferty: Recorded results on a viewing log #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:45:30 2012
Rafferty: was instructed to look for silver or light coloured vehicles when looking at CCTV images #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:43:37 2012
Rafferty: the time difference between the two was 33 minutes #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:35:58 2012
Rafferty: was asked to check the time difference between that recorded on cameras at Maindee police station and real time on Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:34:40 2012
Rafferty: there were discrepancies between the time on the CCTV stills and real time #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:28:49 2012
Jury being shown CCTV stills put together in time sequence by Ms Rafferty #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:26:08 2012
Her job is to receive and view CCTV and document them in a picture book from them #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:24:02 2012
End of Miss Temby's evidence. Next up is Johanna Rafferty who is a major incident team support officer with Gwent Police #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:23:14 2012
Temby: there was a time discrepancy of around 25 mins between real time and the time on the video #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:22:15 2012
Temby: footage taken from Maindee police station was for evening of Feb 4 into Feb 5 #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:17:16 2012
Temby: also collected CCTV footage recorded at Maindee Police Station. There was a time discrepancy between video and real time #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:13:59 2012
Miss Temby put together the CCTV compilation taken from The Greyhound pub that jury was shown yesterday #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:11:15 2012
She is a video support officer with Gwent Police #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:09:25 2012
First witness today is Alison Temby #nikitta
Fri Feb 03 10:07:29 2012
Follow me for live coverage from the #nikitta trial from 10am
Fri Feb 03 09:36:50 2012
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