THE trial of a former pub landlord accused of murdering five prostitutes – including a former Huddersfield woman – was beginning today.
Steve Wright, 49, of Ipswich, Suffolk, denies murdering Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.
Wright’s trial is scheduled to begin in court number one at Ipswich Crown Court before judge Mr Justice Gross. It is expected to last at least six weeks.
The five women were found at remote locations near Ipswich during a 10-day period in December 2006. They all worked as prostitutes in the town.
Miss Alderton moved to Essex after living and working in Huddersfield for many years.
She had homes in Marsden, Huddersfield and Primrose Hill before moving south to be closer to her mother, Maire, who had lived in Almondbury.
Miss Alderton, the mother of a young boy, still has family in the Huddersfield area..
Detectives launched an inquiry after Miss Nicol vanished on October 30 2006.
Just over two weeks later, Miss Adams was reported missing after going to work in Ipswich’s red light district. Her body was discovered in a brook at Hintlesham on December 2 2006.
Six days later, Miss Nicol’s body was found in water in the nearby village of Copdock.
The body of Miss Alderton, who had not been reported missing, was found in woodland at Nacton on December 10 2006.
And on December 12 2006, the bodies of Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls were found in woodland at Levington
Wright, who will be 50 in April, was charged late on December 21 2006 after being arrested early on December 19 2006 at the home he shared with his partner Pam Goodman, a call centre worker.
He pleaded not guilty to the five murder charges at a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court in May 2007.
The prosecution team is being led by barrister Peter Wright QC.
Wright, a keen golfer who has also worked as a barman, lorry driver and fork-lift truck driver, has a legal team led by Timothy Langdale QC.
