THE trial of a man accused of murdering two schoolgirls in the 1980s will enter its fifth week today.
Russell Bishop is accused of killing Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway at Wild Park in Brighton in 1986.
The 52-year-old, formerly of Hollingdean, was acquitted at Lewes Crown Court in 1987, but is in the dock for a retrial at the Old Bailey after scientific advances in DNA and forensic evidence.
Previously Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, outlined the “compelling” evidence against Bishop, including DNA that linked him to the girls and to a blue Pinto sweatshirt that he wore.
Witnesses have been called for the prosecution, including scientific experts, police officers, and the girls’ family members.
Expert Roy Green said DNA evidence was "a billion times more likely" to be from Bishop, putting him at the crime scene in Wild Park on the night the girls went missing.
But Joel Bennathan QC, defending, says Bishop denies murder, and said Nicola’s father Barrie was the real suspect. He said techniques for testing in the 1980s were not as tight as today.
The prosecution case is expected to end this week, and Mr Bennathan will then call defence witnesses.
What are you memories of the time? Email our crime reporter Aidan Barlow on: aidan.barlow@theargus.co.uk.
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