FOLLOW our live blog of the Nikitta Grender trial with our reporters sending updates from 10.30am 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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Mr Kinch will continue his closing on Monday #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:28:12 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is showing the jury a map made by police to show the route the prosecution say Whant took #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:25:15 +0000 2012

Kinch: Mr Cass said the Godfrey Morgan pub footage was 'blink & you miss it' & he had to take stills, but still couldn't be certain #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:19:01 +0000 2012

Kinch: the CCTV of the route back undermines Mr Cass's conclusions & the certainty he speaks of #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:12:28 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is now showing the jury CCTV stills from premises on Chepstow Road #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:06:21 +0000 2012

Kinch: it may be that to the extent of identifying a Ford Focus you can rely on that evidence, anything further may be a problem #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:05:33 +0000 2012

Kinch: reconstruction of the events of a wet February night, was carried out on a dry night on July #nikitta Fri Feb 17 15:01:23 +0000 2012

Kinch: what Matthew Cass was looking for was identifying features - a tax disc, an AA sticker etc #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:58:05 +0000 2012

Kinch: looking at the CCTV of the vehicles had limitations - no number plates, no distinct colours, can't say how many passengers #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:56:35 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is moving on to talk about the vehicle recognition evidence #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:54:01 +0000 2012

Kinch: even if the fire had started at 5.15am there simply wasn't enough time for Whant to have got there & set the fire #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:51:18 +0000 2012

Kinch: Mr Flanagan said it was reasonable to say the fire could've burned for an hour before the alarm triggered #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:49:22 +0000 2012

Kinch: we know that #nikitta's dog was found in the room. It died from the effects of the fire. No question of the dog escaping the room Fri Feb 17 14:46:02 +0000 2012

Kinch: had #nikitta's bedroom door been open for any great deal of time, there would've been more damage to the lower part of the corridor Fri Feb 17 14:38:36 +0000 2012

Kinch: a smouldering fire would have taken hours to cause the damage in #nikitta's flat Fri Feb 17 14:33:17 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is showing the jury photos of inside #nikitta's burnt out flat Fri Feb 17 14:30:05 +0000 2012

Kinch: that suggests the door was closed or closed to, when firefighters entered #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:29:19 +0000 2012

Kinch: none of the firefighters noticed any increased heat or light from the fire when they entered the flat #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:28:40 +0000 2012

Kinch: we know that this fire flared up shortly after fire crews arrived #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:24:14 +0000 2012

Kinch: this fire was a slow burning fire that had been deprived of oxygen #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:23:09 +0000 2012

Kinch: there are 2 things Miss Voisey can't tell us - how long the alarm had been going off & how long the fire had been burning #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:19:51 +0000 2012

Kinch: the fire started at some point before Sarah Voisey first heard the alarm at 5.30am #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:18:06 +0000 2012

Kinch: it follows as night follows day that whoever set the fire killed #Nikitta Grender Fri Feb 17 14:16:27 +0000 2012

Kinch: the question we want to put is does the evidence you have heard fit the picture that the prosecution have put to you? #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:15:32 +0000 2012

Kinch: It's the same as putting a jigsaw together - some pieces fit & others don't #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:13:36 +0000 2012

Kinch: some circumstantial evidence will help & fit, but some you will have to question #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:12:06 +0000 2012

Kinch: we have to face up to the fact there's no direct evidence from machine or person. What we have is circumstantial evidence #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:11:05 +0000 2012

Kinch: what help it might've been if someone nearby was having a sleepless night & was able to tell us what was going on #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:08:37 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is showing the jury an aerial view of Broadmead Park #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:07:29 +0000 2012

Kinch: different counsel, take different approaches & there is a lot material I need to address & cover with you #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:06:23 +0000 2012

Jury are taking their seats for Christopher Kinch QC's defence closing speech #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:04:32 +0000 2012

Mr Taylor has finished his speech. Court rising until 2pm #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:50:12 +0000 2012

Taylor: something was put under that footwell mat. The knife has never been found #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:49:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: then you have the blood in the car #nikitta had never been in Fri Feb 17 12:48:42 +0000 2012

Taylor: the question is how did #nikitta's blood get on the inside of his shirt & jacket Fri Feb 17 12:48:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: again how very unlucky for Whant that there is a car, which he said isn't his, with similar features out at that time #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:46:38 +0000 2012

Taylor: it's significant that there is a pre-facelift mk1 Focus driving on Chepstow Rd in the early hrs of Feb 5 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:45:01 +0000 2012

Mr Taylor is highlighting CCTV footage where a car the prosecution say is Whant's was spotted in the early hrs of Feb 5, 11 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:42:46 +0000 2012

Taylor: no doubt in Mr Cass's mind that the car on the CCTV was a mark 1 pre-facelift Ford Focus #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:39:37 +0000 2012

Taylor: features identified on a particular car on cctv were the tax disc & AA sticker positions & the defective no plate lights #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:38:32 +0000 2012

Taylor: CCTV was sent to the Transport Research Lab for Matthew Cass to look at without knowing what he was looking for #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:35:32 +0000 2012

Taylor: his loss of memory starts then. The only thing he remembered was possibly turning his car around in Corelli St #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:33:33 +0000 2012

Taylor: he never went there, we know exactly where he went. It is another embellishment invented by him #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:32:28 +0000 2012

Taylor: he is gone from something like 5am until 6.15/6.20am. Knocking on his nan's door to get cigarettes #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:31:43 +0000 2012

Taylor: Mr Mayes rang Miss Bird at 5.20am on Feb 5 to see if Whant was with her. At that time Whant had been gone 20/30mins #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:30:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: he is never shown on CCTV in the Greyhound with a pint. This is another invention on his part to explain the injuries #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:28:41 +0000 2012

Jury being shown the coat Whant wore on the night of Feb 4, 2011 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:27:42 +0000 2012

Taylor: Whant drew a plan of where the man knocked his pint & where he went. None of his friends noticed any injuries that night #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:26:58 +0000 2012

Taylor: how unlucky for Whant that on the same night #nikitta is raped & murdered, he has a 'run in' with an 'arrogant' man in the pub Fri Feb 17 12:25:34 +0000 2012

Kinch: It's the same as putting a jigsaw together - some pieces fit & others don't #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:13:36 +0000 2012

Kinch: some circumstantial evidence will help & fit, but some you will have to question #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:12:06 +0000 2012

Kinch: we have to face up to the fact there's no direct evidence from machine or person. What we have is circumstantial evidence #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:11:05 +0000 2012

Kinch: what help it might've been if someone nearby was having a sleepless night & was able to tell us what was going on #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:08:37 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch is showing the jury an aerial view of Broadmead Park #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:07:29 +0000 2012

Kinch: different counsel, take different approaches & there is a lot material I need to address & cover with you #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:06:23 +0000 2012

Jury are taking their seats for Christopher Kinch QC's defence closing speech #nikitta Fri Feb 17 14:04:32 +0000 2012

Mr Taylor has finished his speech. Court rising until 2pm #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:50:12 +0000 2012

Taylor: something was put under that footwell mat. The knife has never been found #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:49:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: then you have the blood in the car #nikitta had never been in Fri Feb 17 12:48:42 +0000 2012

Taylor: the question is how did #nikitta's blood get on the inside of his shirt & jacket Fri Feb 17 12:48:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: again how very unlucky for Whant that there is a car, which he said isn't his, with similar features out at that time #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:46:38 +0000 2012

Taylor: it's significant that there is a pre-facelift mk1 Focus driving on Chepstow Rd in the early hrs of Feb 5 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:45:01 +0000 2012

Mr Taylor is highlighting CCTV footage where a car the prosecution say is Whant's was spotted in the early hrs of Feb 5, 11 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:42:46 +0000 2012

Taylor: no doubt in Mr Cass's mind that the car on the CCTV was a mark 1 pre-facelift Ford Focus #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:39:37 +0000 2012

Taylor: features identified on a particular car on cctv were the tax disc & AA sticker positions & the defective no plate lights #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:38:32 +0000 2012

Taylor: CCTV was sent to the Transport Research Lab for Matthew Cass to look at without knowing what he was looking for #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:35:32 +0000 2012

Taylor: his loss of memory starts then. The only thing he remembered was possibly turning his car around in Corelli St #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:33:33 +0000 2012

Taylor: he never went there, we know exactly where he went. It is another embellishment invented by him #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:32:28 +0000 2012

Taylor: he is gone from something like 5am until 6.15/6.20am. Knocking on his nan's door to get cigarettes #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:31:43 +0000 2012

Taylor: Mr Mayes rang Miss Bird at 5.20am on Feb 5 to see if Whant was with her. At that time Whant had been gone 20/30mins #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:30:17 +0000 2012

Taylor: he is never shown on CCTV in the Greyhound with a pint. This is another invention on his part to explain the injuries #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:28:41 +0000 2012

Jury being shown the coat Whant wore on the night of Feb 4, 2011 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:27:42 +0000 2012

Taylor: Whant drew a plan of where the man knocked his pint & where he went. None of his friends noticed any injuries that night #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:26:58 +0000 2012

Taylor: how unlucky for Whant that on the same night #nikitta is raped & murdered, he has a 'run in' with an 'arrogant' man in the pub Fri Feb 17 12:25:34 +0000 2012

Taylor: his explanation to her was the same as to the police #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:24:13 +0000 2012

Taylor: he said he wasn't aware of marks on his arm until they were pointed out by his fiancee Rachel Bird #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:22:50 +0000 2012

Taylor: I submit that Whant will say anything if he thinks it helps him #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:21:56 +0000 2012

Taylor: we say #nikitta was raped by Whant & she fought him off, puncturing his skin with her nails #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:21:10 +0000 2012

Taylor: you know from Mr Mayes & #nikitta's mother Marcia Grender that she didn't like Whant Fri Feb 17 12:20:15 +0000 2012

Taylor: Whant tried to change his explanation about how he too came to have sex with #nikitta. Said it occurred at Ryan Mate's invitation Fri Feb 17 12:19:28 +0000 2012

Taylor: if Whant wasn't responsible, how unlucky that the 1st time he has consensual sex with #nikitta is hrs before her death Fri Feb 17 12:18:02 +0000 2012

Taylor: someone went into that flat & committed these crimes. You know we say that it was Carl Whant #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:15:48 +0000 2012

Taylor: if the door was open, alarm could've gone off anytime up to 15mins #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:14:59 +0000 2012

Taylor: there are theories about the start of this fire - if the door was closed could take up to an hr for alarm to go off #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:13:59 +0000 2012

Taylor: Mr Flanagan said he believed the door was closed or closed to for most of the fire #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:12:56 +0000 2012

Taylor: if that's the duration of the fire, we say we have a fire starting between 5 & 5.30am #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:11:47 +0000 2012

Taylor: cannot be precise in terms of when the fire started. Could have started between 4.30 & 5.30. Could have burned for 2.5-3hrs #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:10:43 +0000 2012

Taylor: Mr Flanagan said that if the door had been fully open the alarm would've gone off within 30secs #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:08:43 +0000 2012

Taylor: fire was likely started by a lighter rather than anything else. Evidence was found that clothing was hanging from door #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:07:37 +0000 2012

Taylor: fire started in more than one place. 2 seats of fire - 1 at top of the bed, another at foot of the bed #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:06:35 +0000 2012

Taylor: fire had not had time to develop. Mr Flanagan said it was a deliberately started, slow burning fire. #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:05:01 +0000 2012

Taylor: fire investigator Mick Flanagan attended on Feb 6 to try & find cause of fire, any matches or lighters. Took all day #nikitta Fri Feb 17 12:03:46 +0000 2012

Taylor: at 8.14am a fire investigation team was called for as #nikitta's body had been found Fri Feb 17 12:01:51 +0000 2012

Taylor: #nikitta's friend Jenna Allman said she dropped her off at around 1am & #nikitta unlocked the door before going into her flat Fri Feb 17 12:00:26 +0000 2012

Taylor: both sisters sais they heard footsteps, but the flat was locked. May well have been the dog playing with something #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:59:20 +0000 2012

Taylor: 999 call at 7.50am & Miss Voisey tried to raise #nikitta but no reply. Told court her sister had heard footsteps upstairs Fri Feb 17 11:58:00 +0000 2012

Taylor: 7.30am came & Miss Voisey was putting a nappy in the bin when she smelt smoke. Her flat started to get hot & she called 999 #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:56:34 +0000 2012

Taylor: neighbour Sarah Voisey heard the alarm at around 5.30am, got up looked around but didn't see anything wrong #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:55:11 +0000 2012

Taylor: smoke alarm was going off when firefighters got there. Alarm expert said alarm was very sensitive #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:54:19 +0000 2012

Taylor: window had blown out & air was clearing & #nikitta's body was found on the bed Fri Feb 17 11:53:22 +0000 2012

Taylor: went to main bedroom, closed door before opening it again & dampening down the fire #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:52:42 +0000 2012

Taylor: a ball of flame came down the corridor towards them & they had to crouch to fight it #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:51:59 +0000 2012

Taylor: when the window in the baby's room opened, visibility cleared & firefighters heard a bang #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:51:18 +0000 2012

Taylor: firemen were called to #nikitta's house at 7.50am & they could see the windows were blackened. Entered & started a search Fri Feb 17 11:50:03 +0000 2012

Mr Kinch has closed the defence case. Prosecutor Gregg Taylor QC is starting his closing speech #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:48:43 +0000 2012

Document included a summary of one of Whant's witness statements given to Whant's solicitor at the same time #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:46:55 +0000 2012

Jury also being given a copy of the first disclosure document given to Whant's solicitor before interviews after his arrest #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:43:57 +0000 2012

Photos include a close up of bloodstaining on the towel #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:41:47 +0000 2012

Jury being shown photos of a towel recovered from the bathroom in #nikitta's flat Fri Feb 17 11:40:41 +0000 2012

Christopher Kinch QC is continuing the defence case #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:39:57 +0000 2012

Judge & jury back in the courtroom #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:38:00 +0000 2012

Jury now expected to come in at 11.30am #nikitta Fri Feb 17 11:18:57 +0000 2012

Short delay before #nikitta trial restarts Fri Feb 17 10:49:19 +0000 2012

Morning, I'll be tweeting from the #nikitta trial from 10.30am. Judge has another case up at 10am, but hopefully trial will restart on time Fri Feb 17 09:49:04 +0000 2012