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Susan Whiting murder: Accused 'changed story about seeing victim before death'

A man accused of raping and murdering a 20-year-old Walsall student lied to police about seeing her the day before she was found dead, a court heard.

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Susan Whiting was discovered half-naked and wrapped in a shower curtain underneath a bed at a home in Heather Close, Dudley Fields, on Tuesday, August 18.

Steven Beards initially told police he was at the house, home to his wife Julie who is also accused of murder, at around 7am on the Monday morning. He said he saw Miss Whiting and offered to walk her home but she declined, Leicester Crown Court heard.

But when the 34-year-old, who declared himself as homeless, was later arrested by police he said he had not seen her on the day.

The court also heard from the police officer who discovered Miss Whiting's body.

Husband and wife Julie and Steven Beards

Pc Martin Beebee, of West Midlands Police, who arrested Beards, took the stand yesterday at the trial.

When questioned by prosecutor Mr Gareth Evans QC about the original conversation he said: "He said Susan was up and Julie was still in bed. While he was there Susan left. He asked her if she would like him to walk her home and the offer was refused."

But Pc Beebee later told the jury that when Beards was arrested and sitting in the police car he said 'I didn't see Susan Monday morning'.

The officer recalled he did not prompt him to say anything in the car and 'strongly advised' him not to say anything further.

He also made a note of the conversation on an A4 notepad, not the usual police notebook, which he used to complete his formal statement.

It is alleged that Miss Whiting stayed at Julie Beards' home in Heather Close on the night of Sunday, August 16.

The prosecution case is that she was drugged, raped and killed before her body was hidden under the bed at the property.

A statement was read out from Pc Georgia Shields, who found Miss Whiting's body.

It said: "I searched the rear of the wardrobe and was asked by my colleague to look under the single bed.

"I screamed and jumped back shocked at my discovery I saw what I believed to be a dead body wrapped in a bag."

Miss Whiting had suffered a fractured skull as a result of numerous blows to her head, her wrists had been bound and her head was covered in a plastic bag.

On the opening day of the trial Mr Evans asserted one of the possible reasons for the attack was to 'settle a grudge' between Ms Whiting and Julie Beards.

The prosecutor told the court their friendship was 'cooling' and Ms Beards 'resented' the fact Ms Whiting had other friends.

Steven Beards denies murder and rape and Julie Beards, 35, denies murder.

The trial continues.

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