45 minutes ago
Shane Mays has entered the dock
Shane Mays has now entered the dock wearing a blue jumper.
Socially distanced jurors are now taking their seats as proceedings are set to get underway.
22 minutes ago
Forensic evidence
Mr Newton-Price, going through the evidence of a forensic scientist, told the court Louise would have suffered blows to her face causing bleeding - with ‘blood spots’ found on Mays left trainer.
‘The blood spots were consistent with someone punching her many times,’ he said.
DNA found was ‘more than one billion times to have originated from Louise’.
16 minutes ago
Mays denies he murdered Louise to police
The prosecutor said after Mays had been arrested he told police: 'I strongly deny the allegation - I had no involvement in the murder.
‘That’s all I wish to say at present.'
10 minutes ago
Mays ‘changed his story’
Mr Newton-Price said Mays ‘lured’ Louise to a remote location before he attacked her with ‘unimaginable cruelty’ before attempting to cover his tracks so no one would find her.
Summing up the Crown’s opening, the prosecutor said they do not accept the guilty plea to manslaughter. ‘He’s changed his story - he’s changed his plea and said he intended no serious harm,' Mr Newton-Price said.
‘The prosecution seek to prove he is guilty of murder.’
5 minutes ago
Defence admits Mays ‘lost temper’ during attack on Louise
Andrew Langdon QC, defending Mays, said the defendant admitted attacking Louise.
‘He attacked her because of an argument where he lost his temper,’ he told the court.
‘He repeatedly punched her and he accepts the attack would have caused/contributed to her death.'
He added: ‘He did not intent to kill her.’