Suffolk Strangler jury's grim trek into the woods

In wellington boots and heavy coats, they trudged through the mud, surveying a rural scene rendered bleak and charmless by grey skies and rain.

This was the task which faced the jury yesterday in the trial of Steve Wright, the man accused of being the Suffolk Strangler who murdered five prostitutes just over a year ago.

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Accompanied by the judge Mr Justice Gross and lawyers, they were led by police to the places where the victims were found.

From the relative comfort of their seats in Ipswich Crown Court last week, they had seen these locations brought to life on screen in a series of computer-generated graphics.

Now they witnessed the reality, clambering through undergrowth to see for themselves these lonely sites, each a short distance from the A14 dual carriageway on the southern edge of Ipswich where Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29, and Paula Clennell, 24, were dumped.

The judge had warned them to ignore tributes left at the sites as "irrelevant" to their task.

But it must have been difficult, especially at their last stop, where Miss Clennell was found, and where a shrine has sprung up with wooden crosses, fresh bouquets, a small potted Christmas tree, three toy windmills and cards, one of which read: "I will always love you little Sis, sleep well and enjoy being free. Lots of love from Alice."

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Before their tour of the five sites they had been taken on a brief circuit of the Ipswich red light district where the girls all worked as prostitutes to fund their drug habits.

And they were shown 79 London Road, the Victorian endof-terrace where Wright, a forklift truck driver, lived with his girlfriend Pamela, during his alleged killing spree.

Wright, 49, who denies the murders, was not on the outing, having opted to spend the day in his cell. The case continues.

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