Jury Deliberates Evidence in Coventry Sex Worker Murder Trial
A jury at Warwick Crown Court is currently deliberating evidence presented during the trial of a man accused of murdering a Midlands sex worker. The body of Reanne Coulson, aged 34, was discovered in a shallow grave near a woodland path in Binley Woods, Coventry.
Defendant Denies Murder, Claims Overdose
Mohammed Durnion, 42, has pleaded not guilty to murder. He claims that Coulson died from an apparent overdose following a brief argument at his flat on May 21 last year. However, prosecutors allege that Durnion killed Coulson in a sudden and deliberate attack and then feigned a mental health crisis after police arrived minutes following a 999 call.
The court heard that a neighbour alerted police after hearing Coulson screaming and crying for help. When officers searched Durnion's flat on Paynes Lane in Coventry, there was no sign of Coulson, and her body was believed to have been hidden under a mattress.
Body Found Over Five Weeks Later
Reanne Coulson's body was found near a bridleway in Binley Woods more than five weeks after her disappearance. Prosecutor Timothy Cray KC previously informed the court that Coulson had vanished after attending a support group at a Catholic church.
Judge Sums Up Case, Emphasises Unanimous Verdict
On Thursday, March 19, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC summed up the case, reminding jurors of evidence given by Durnion and his co-defendant, Adam Moore, aged 39. Moore, of Marlcroft, Willenhall, Coventry, denies assisting an offender by allegedly helping dispose of Coulson's body on May 22.
The judge told the jury that Durnion stated he was off his head on drugs and not thinking straight when police arrived. Durnion testified that he went into a room to inform Coulson of the police presence, only to find her surrounded by drug paraphernalia, including a needle.
He claimed he then placed her body in a suitcase, drove to the woods, dug a hole, and used petrol to set fire to the body to destroy any fibres from his car.
Co-defendant Denies Involvement
Meanwhile, Adam Moore asserted that he visited Binley Woods for approximately half an hour to search for Durnion but did not leave the path near the deposition site and had no involvement in disposing of the body.
Judge Montgomery emphasised to the jury: It may be that some of you have heard of juries returning majority verdicts. I am afraid I can't accept a majority verdict. The only verdict I can accept is a verdict of you all. That is what we call a unanimous verdict, and it is only a unanimous verdict I can accept from you at this stage.
The jury deliberated for around an hour this afternoon and will continue discussions tomorrow, Friday, March 20.
