FOLLOW our live blog of the Nikitta Grender trial with our reporters sending updates from court.

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.

NIKITTA TRIAL UPDATES

Case adjourned until 10am tomorrow. Read tomorrow's Argus for @ArgusNCrockett's coverage of today's evidence Tue Jan 24 16:16:33 2012
DS O'Keefe: First trip to Whant's by police resulted in Whant handing over a jacket and trousers worn by him on the night #nikitta died Tue Jan 24 16:12:39 2012
DS O'Keefe: Previously, Whant asked #nikitta if she would have sex with him, she declined Tue Jan 24 16:11:22 2012
DS O'Keefe: Whant gave two names to police about men who had a physical relationship with #nikitta Tue Jan 24 16:06:26 2012
DS O'Keefe: Whant told me he kissed #nikitta outside his parents house but had never been in a physicsal relationship Tue Jan 24 16:02:28 2012
In interview, DS O'Keefe said Whant said he went to his nan's at around 4.30am #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:59:53 2012
DS O'Keefe: Whant told me he got cigarettes from his nan and she did not mind as he had done it before #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:56:19 2012
DC Bartholomew has finished giving evidence. Next up is DS Justin O'Keefe #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:52:53 2012
Whant confirmed he went on the journey from Corelli Street to his nan's with police and it was the same route he took on February 5 #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:50:19 2012
Further statement taken from Whant on February 8 #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:46:37 2012
DC Bartholomew said she can't explain why she didn't note in her pocket book that Whant put the items in the evidence bags himself #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:27:24 2012
DC Bartholomew: "Mr Whant readily handed over the items" #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:25:30 2012
Defence barrister points out wording saying evidence was handed to DC Bartholomew, she said this was a figure of speech #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:22:12 2012
DC Bartolomew: I haven't touched any clothing placed in evidence bag by Whant Tue Jan 24 15:20:49 2012
Written statement taken from Whant but no video recording made #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:18:45 2012
At first, Whant was a potentially valuable witness, not a suspect #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:17:20 2012
DC Bartholomew under cross examination #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:16:14 2012
Journey distance was 2.1 miles and took police 9 minutes 7 seconds #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:14:05 2012
Jury being played footage from police car as Whant directed officers on the route he said he took from Corelli Street #nikitta Tue Jan 24 15:05:05 2012
On journey back, Whant said there was blood on the coat he gave to police from previous fights, court hears #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:58:05 2012
Whant said he was worried and had been thinking if there was any CCTV #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:56:52 2012
On way to Corelli Street, Whant told police officers in the car I heard on news fire started at 5.30am, I heard it was 8, jury told #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:56:14 2012
Police asked Whant to show them the route he took from Correli Street to his nan's house #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:53:07 2012
Whant: On night in question, my phone had no credit. No-one else used my phone that night #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:51:57 2012
Whant said a few months earlier, a man came round and threatened #nikitta over a £680 drug debt run up by Whant and Mr Mayes Tue Jan 24 14:50:07 2012
Jury hears #nikitta told by midwife the week before that baby could come at any time Tue Jan 24 14:48:53 2012
Whant: "It was then we saw what happened" #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:48:02 2012
After that, they went to Mr Mayes flat in Broadmead Park #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:47:33 2012
With Mr Mayes and a friend in Whant's car, drove to his nan's house around 8 or 8.30am #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:46:49 2012
Mr Mayes let Whant back in the Corelli Street house #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:45:48 2012
Whant: I don't remember the journey back because of drink and drugs. I remember getting back because it was freezing #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:45:14 2012
....I said I would go to my nan's to get some. Wanted to avoid the town centre as I'd been drinking #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:44:15 2012
Went upstairs to ask for a cigarette, Mr Mayes and the woman were fully clothed on top of the bed. No-one had any so....... Tue Jan 24 14:43:02 2012
Whant: At house in Corelli Street, we were having a laugh before someone dropped off half a gramme of cocaine and I had 4/5 vodkas #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:40:55 2012
Whant: We left Revolutions around 3am and went in my car to a house in Newport Tue Jan 24 14:39:27 2012
Whant: We spent the night in Revolutions but would go to my car to take cocaine #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:38:30 2012
Then moved on to the Greyhound. After 30 mins Whant left to buy £40 of cocaine for them to take #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:37:28 2012
Then went to Star pub for 90 mins, Whant kept £40 for drugs separate from his drinking money #nikkita Tue Jan 24 14:36:25 2012
Drove to Mr Mayes' mum's house in Newport, drank rum and coke and carling while watching first half of Wales v England #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:34:54 2012
Whant: Just said hi to #nikitta in the flat while waiting for Mr Mayes Tue Jan 24 14:33:30 2012
Canvassed until 4pm then went to Mr Mayes and #nikitta's flat in Broadmead Park Tue Jan 24 14:32:02 2012
Whant: In work car Ford Focus, me and superviser picked up Mr Mayes before going for breakfast #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:31:09 2012
Whant's statement being read resumes #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:29:30 2012
DC Bartholomew about to resume #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:28:19 2012
Miss Voisey said if #nikitta returned home at around 1am, she did not hear her Tue Jan 24 14:17:08 2012
Miss Voisey: I was back and forth in my flat during the night taking care of my daughter #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:15:44 2012
Miss Voisey: Other than footsteps on Friday, I didn't hear anything else #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:10:23 2012
Neighbour Sarah Voisey has been recalled for extra questions before DC Bartholomew resumes #nikitta Tue Jan 24 14:07:01 2012
Case adjourned for lunch. Back on at 2pm #nikitta Tue Jan 24 13:03:52 2012
Whant on Feb 5 planned to watch England v Wales after work #nikitta Tue Jan 24 13:03:46 2012
Whant and #nikitta argued in the past as she thought he was a bad influence, court hears Tue Jan 24 13:01:50 2012
Whant: On one occasion me and #nikitta had a "cwtch and kiss" but we have never had sex Tue Jan 24 13:01:00 2012
Jury hears Mr Mayes had relationship with another woman while he and Nikitta were not together and fathered a baby with her #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:59:38 2012
Whant: Mr Mayes and #nikitta had on/off relationship Tue Jan 24 12:58:27 2012
Whant: No question anyone other than Mr Mayes was the father #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:57:49 2012
Whant said #nikitta had a relationship with Mr Maye's step father Tue Jan 24 12:57:14 2012
Whant: I've known Nikitta 3/4 years Tue Jan 24 12:56:26 2012
Ryan Mayes also worked at Anglian Windows #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:55:49 2012
Whant: Past few weeks I cut cocaine use #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:55:21 2012
Whant said he and Ryan Mayes were using 3 grammes of cocaine a day at one point and had to steal to pay for it #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:54:32 2012
Statement "Ryan idolises me, i am closest thing he has to a father" #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:53:31 2012
DC Bartholomew begins to read statement to jury #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:52:43 2012
Whant's statement is 29 pages long and gives job as canvasser for Anglian Windows #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:51:04 2012
Shirt is short sleeved with a dark blue collar and white on the hem of the arms #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:48:35 2012
Clothing seized 7 February at 12.40pm #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:43:38 2012
Jury shown exhibit bags with Whant's black shoes and light blue shirt #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:40:57 2012
Evidence bags sealed with brown tape after being folded closed #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:40:03 2012
DC Bartholomew said Whant told her the shirt had been washed #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:39:09 2012
One shirt and one pair of shoes in three separate evidence bags #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:37:49 2012
Whant put them into evidence bags before they were sealed at Bettws police station #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:37:00 2012
DC Bartholomew visited Whant at house in Bettws, he handed over clothes he said he was wearing on night of Feb 4th #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:36:13 2012
Change of plan, next witness up is DC Emma Bartholomew #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:32:30 2012
Mr Flanagan's evidence has finished. Next witness is defence fire expert Darryl Manners #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:13:44 2012
Mr Flanagan: If door was open while fire being set, I'd expect alarm to start within 15 minutes. With door shut, up to an hour #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:10:33 2012
...could have been any time between 0 and 15 minutes, depending on a number of variables #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:09:08 2012
Mr Flanagan: I'd be surprised if smoke alarms didn't start within 15 minutes if bedroom door was wide open #nikitta...... Tue Jan 24 12:08:07 2012
Nikitta found on the bed wearing "some clothing" said prosecutor Gregg Taylor #nikitta Tue Jan 24 12:07:00 2012
Prior to firefighters' arrival, Mr Flanagan said he believes the bedroom door was left almost shut #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:59:31 2012
Mr Flanagan: "To me it's plain as day" the door was pushed almost closed due to damage and char pattern on inside and outside of door Tue Jan 24 11:57:43 2012
Time the fire started cannot be determined to the minute #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:50:59 2012
Mr Flanagan: There is a "remarkable" difference to door damage in fires when the door is opened or closed #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:49:54 2012
Mr Flanagan: I believe matress burned, heat rose to ceiling until bedroom door opened by firefighters, causing fire to establish #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:47:14 2012
Dog also found in the bedroom and described as "fire damaged" by defence counsel Christopher Kinch #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:45:30 2012
Mr Flanagan: Fire reconstructions only carried out at request of other agencies, such as the police #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:38:46 2012
Item, most likely a man made fibre, hung over corner of the bedroom door but was destroyed. Dripping residue left on the door #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:28:44 2012
Contents of chest of drawers protected from fire by the exterior #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:17:40 2012
Mr Flanagan: Even char on back of bedroom door indicates it was pushed almost closed during development of fire #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:07:07 2012
Mr Flanagan: Difference in char on right hand side of the bed indicates it was burning longer #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:03:47 2012
Mr Flanagan: I don't recall seeing a lighter in the room #nikitta Tue Jan 24 11:01:24 2012
Mr Flanagan: If bedroom door was open, there would have been a higher flame #nikitta Tue Jan 24 10:54:54 2012
Mr Flanagan: Fire started on a mattress will have a small flame and not generate great heat Tue Jan 24 10:51:06 2012
This was a slow developing fire in the flat #nikitta Tue Jan 24 10:47:45 2012
Mr Flanagan: Nikitta's bedroom had significant quantity of flammable material in it #nikitta Tue Jan 24 10:46:28 2012
Jury have come into court, trial is about to restart #nikitta Tue Jan 24 10:42:09 2012
Head fire investigator Mick Flanagan is first in the witness box for cross examination #nikitta Tue Jan 24 10:17:18 2012
Follow me for live tweets today from the #nikitta murder trial Tue Jan 24 09:58:21 2012