Murder motive 'may remain mystery'

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Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told Ipswich Crown Court the world may never know what had driven Wright to embark upon his "campaign" of murder.

But he told jurors that it was "certain" that Wright had murdered Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 18, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29.

The women, who all worked in the red light district of Ipswich, began to vanish in late October 2006. Their naked bodies were found at isolated locations near the Suffolk town during the first two weeks of December 2006. Two had been laid out in a "cruciform" shape.

The defendant, 49, a former forklift truck driver who lived in Ipswich's red light district with his partner Pam Wright, denies murder.

On the second day of the trial the prosecution outlined a list of forensic and circumstantial evidence, saying Wright's DNA was found on the three women - Miss Nicholls, Miss Alderton and Miss Clennell - whose bodies were found on land.

The jury also heard scientific evidence showed that Wright had been in close contact with Miss Nicholls, Miss Alderton and Miss Clennell shortly before their deaths, and that experts had found fibres which linked Wright with the bodies of all five women.

Mr Wright said investigations revealed that Wright had tried to cover his tracks by cleaning his car. But he added: "It is the prosecution case that he may have been careful but he was not careful enough and the fibres linking the defendant with the bodies of each of these five women speaks volumes as to his involvement in their disappearance, their murders and the disposal of their bodies."

However, outlining the defence case Timothy Langdale QC told the jury Wright would not dispute scientific evidence showing that his DNA - plus fibres from his clothes, car and flat - were found, and he would admit to having sex with four of the women.

But Wright denied murder, said Mr Langdale, arguing his contact with the women accounted for the presence of the DNA and fibres. The hearing continues on Monday.