THE jury in the trial of a man accused of killing two schoolgirls in the 1980s is expected to be sent out this week.

Russell Bishop has been on trial at The Old Bailey in London accused of the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway at Wild Park in Brighton in October 1986.

The 52-year-old former roofer has been on trial for eight weeks, and judge Mr Justice Sweeney is expected to start summing up today.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, asked the jurors to put right a “32-year long injustice” in his closing speech last week.

He pointed to Bishop’s 1990 conviction for the kidnap, indecent assault, and attempted murder or a seven-year-old girl from Whitehawk, and to “compelling” new DNA evidence which links him to the scene of Nicola and Karen’s death.

Mr Altman accused Bishop of being a “coward” for failing to continue cross examination in the witness box, while Bishop himself refused to attend court on two days last week.

Joel Bennathan QC, defending, has pointed the finger of blame at Nicola’s father Barrie Fellows amid lurid claims that he had watched a pornographic video of his daughter.

Bishop denies the murders, and a verdict could be returned this week.

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