Tragic: Rebecca Watts was found dead at a house in Bristol in March
Becky Watts’ stepbrother Nathan Matthews, 28, has pleaded guilty to three offences – but not murder.
His girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21, also denies killing the 16-year-old, who vanished from her family home in Crown Hill, Bristol, on February 19 and was reported missing the following day. The pair also deny plotting to kidnap her.
Donovan Demetrius, 29, and James Ireland, 23, are charged with assisting an offender.
We will bring you the latest updates from our reporter Richard Smith inside Bristol Crown Court.
Becky ‘told child psychologist she was scared of Nathan Matthews’
The court hears Becky Watts told a child psychologist she was scared of her stepbrother Nathan Matthews in the months before her death.
Becky had been treated for anorexia and anxiety and told a doctor she was ‘frightened’ of him and ‘didn’t like’ her stepbrother.
The court also hears Shauna Hoare met Matthews when she was 15-years-old.
Fear: The court heard Becky was scared of Nathan Matthews
Becky’s mother leaves courtroom as evidence continues
The horrific details of Becky’s alleged murder have caused understandable distress to members of Becky’s family sat in court.
Becky’s mum Tanya has left the courtroom as the prosecution case emerges and a number of the tragic teenager’s are in tears inside the courtroom.
The jury is now being shown pictures of Becky’s home in Bristol where the alleged killing is said to have taken place.
Becky’s body parts ‘found in garden shed’
Mr Mousley tells the jury: “Following publicity about the arrests James Ireland, Karl Demetrius, Jaydene Parsons and Donovon Demetrius met at 9 Barton Court, Barton Hill, Bristol, the home of Karl and Jaydene and where Donovon appeared to be living or staying.
“A search of the house and garden led to the discovery of the body parts of Becky in a shed. “It emerged that karl Demetrius and James Ireland had helped to transport her body parts and other items used in the dismemberment in various bags to that address in Barton Court four day after Becky’s killing. “Donovon Demetrius was present when they arrived and was regularly there up until he was arrested, assisting in the continued concealment.”
Becky was killed ‘as part of plot to kidnap her’
The jury hears police searches of computers and phones connected to Matthews and Hoare after Becky’s body was discovered showed the pair shared a ‘sexual interest’ in ‘teenage and petite girls’.
He adds Becky’s death was the “result of a plan by Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare to kidnap (her).”
The court hears two stun guns were also found at their home when it was searched by police.
Matthews’ fingerprints ‘found in Becky’s blood on doorframes of her bedroom’
Continuing with the prosecution’s evidence, Mr Mousley told the jury: “Becky had been taken home by a friend in the early morning of February 19 to 18 Crown Hill, St george, Bristol, where she lived with her father and step-mother.
“Her last phone contact was during the morning when she sent a text message to a friend from her home where she was alone.
“They discovered that Nathan Matthews – who was Becky’s step brother – and Shauna Hoare, his girlfriend had visited 18 Crown Hill on the morning of February 19.
“When asked by the police they both lief by saying they had heard but not seen Becky at the address on their visit and had heard the front door slam, as if Becky had gone out and that her whereabouts were as unknown to them as to anyone else.
“As a result of Becky’s blood being found on doorframes outside her bedroom , some of which contained Nathan Matthews fingerprints, Matthews and Hoare were arrested for kidnap.
“Two days later these arrests became arrests for murder.”
Matthews pleads guilty to three offences – but not murder
Becky’s stepbrother Nathan Matthews has pleaded guilty to three offences at Bristol Crown Court.
Matthews, aged 28, and his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21, have both denied they murdered Becky,16 and plotted to kidnap her.
But Matthews has admitted three other charges which accused him of hiding and cutting up Becky’s body, being in possession of two stun guns and preventing her lawful burial.
Hoare has pleaded not guilty to all five charges she faces.
Becky’s body was ‘cut into pieces with a power saw’
Mr Mousley continues that after she was killed Becky’s body was cut into pieces using a knife and a power saw.
He said there was a ‘sexual motive’ behind Becky’s killing and that Matthews and Hoare had an ‘unnatural interest in attractive teenage females’.
Prosecution: ‘Becky was suffocated in her bedroom’
Mr Mousley opens the prosecution case by telling the court Becky was killed in her bedroom on February 19 despite ‘fighting for her life’.
He said Becky’s body was ‘carefully packaged’ and moved to another address.
Prosecution about to open case
The trial is now underway at Bristol Crown Court as William Mousley QC begins to open the case for the prosecution.
11:55 Richard Wheatstone
Packed courtroom at Bristol Crown Court
A packed courtroom is awaiting the opening of the trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Several members of Becky’s family as well as family members of the defendants are inside court.
Such is the media interest that a video link is being streamed to an separate annex inside the building to accommodate scores of journalists reporting on the case.
Defendants arrive in the dock
Nathan Matthews, 28, and Shauna Hoare, 21, are charged with Becky’s murder and a string of other offences.
Donovan Demetrius, 29, and James Ireland, 23, are charged with assisting an offender.
The four showed little expression as they were led to the dock by security officers.
Becky’s disappearance sparked huge search
Becky, 16, vanished from her family home in Crown Hill, Bristol, on February 19 and was reported missing the following day.
Her disappearance sparked a huge police search and national coverage.
After a massive operation and desperate pleas from Becky’s heartbroken family, her body parts were discovered in a house in the Barton Hill area of the city on March 2.
Becky’s family in court as trial set to begin
The family of tragic Becky Watts have arrived at Bristol Crown Court as stepbrother Nathan Matthews and his girlfriend Shauna Hoare appear in court charged with her murder.
Becky’s grandmother Pat, mum Tanya, father Darren Galsworthy and uncle Sam Galsworthy are all in court with the jury set to be sworn in within the next hour.
The couple are also charged with conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing Becky’s lawful burial and possessing a prohibited weapon. Donovan Demetrius, 29, and James Ireland, 23, are charged with assisting an offender.
The trial is scheduled to last for up to six weeks.