Man admits killing Hampshire teenager after losing his temper, court told
Last updated 18th Nov 2020
A man accused of killing "vulnerable'' Hampshire teenager Louise Smith with "unimaginable cruelty'' has admitted attacking her after "losing his temper'' but denies her murder, a court has heard.
Shane Mays, of Leigh Park, Havant, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of the 16-year-old who disappeared on VE Day.
Her body was found 13 days later in woodland at Havant Thicket.
The 30-year-old defendant has admitted the manslaughter of the teenager who had been living with him and his wife, Chazlynn Jayne Mays, known as CJ Mays, who was the cousin of Louise's mother as well as the victim's aunt.
James Newton-Price QC, prosecuting, said: "Her killer lured or persuaded her to walk to a remote location where he attacked her.
"We say you can conclude that this was an attack of unimaginable cruelty towards a vulnerable 16-year-old girl.
"There was background evidence that Louise was unhappy in the care of Shane Mays and his wife and she, an adolescent, was drinking heavily on the night before she disappeared.
"Louise was just 16, she was anxious, needy, fragile and vulnerable, vulnerable to the attentions of a predatory man who was apparently flirting with her and living in the same small flat.
"Shane Mays was the last person to see her alive, he was alone with her that afternoon.''
Andrew Langdon QC, representing Mays, said that the defendant admitted causing Louise's death but he had "attacked'' her after "losing control of his temper''.
He told the jury: "By his plea of manslaughter, Mr Mays accepts that on Friday 8th of May, having walked with Louise to Havant Thicket he attacked her.
"His case is he did so because of an argument which resulted in his losing control of his temper.
"He repeatedly punched her and he accepts that his attack on her would have caused or contributed to her subsequent death.
"But he did not intend to kill her or to cause her really serious injury."
Mays denies murder and the trial continues.