THE JURY has begun its deliberations to decide if Michael Lane murdered Shana Grice.

The 12 men and women were released to start their discussions just before 11am after some final words of guidance.

They are trying the case of Lane, 27, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade, who is accused of slitting his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend’s throat and setting her nearby Chrisdory Road room on fire on August 25 last year.

During the three week trial, Lewes Crown Court heard how the pair had an on-off relationship since the summer of 2015 which began as an affair.

They went public as a couple in June last year but this only lasted a matter of weeks after Miss Grice ended things and decided to rekindle her relationship with long-term boyfriend Ashley Cooke.

The jury heard Lane allegedly told a friend Miss Grice “would pay” for what she had done.

When giving evidence on the stand Lane admitted stalking her and said he discovered Miss Grice’s body on the morning of her death. But he denied killing her.