Gosport murder trial: 'Awkward' conversation between alleged killer Brendan Rowan-Davies and mum Kelly-Anne Case is relayed to jury

Giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court, Will Vallender said accused murderer Brendan Rowan-Davies and his alleged victim Kelly-Anne Case both took cocaine in her living room.

Jurors heard Rowan-Davies, 29, and Mr Vallender arrived at the 27-year-old’s home in Grange Crescent, Gosport, at 12.25am after she called Mr Vallender.

He told jurors that he and the defendant had earlier been to Wetherspoons, the White Hart and Rose and Crown pubs where they had a ‘fair few’ pints of beer.

They returned to Rowan-Davies’ home in Trinity Close. The pair got a taxi to Ms Case’s home via Premier Inn in Forton Road where Mr Vallender bought vodka.

Questioning Mr Vallender, prosecutor William Mousley QC said: ‘What was the interaction between her and Brendan, as you could see it?’

The witness said: ‘Awkward. That’s the word I’d use.’

‘What was it that made their interaction awkward?’ Mr Mousley asked.

Mr Vallender said: ‘Brendan stated the fact that he had fancied Kelly-Anne for a long time, and also how he made that very clear.’

Asked how she reacted, Mr Vallender said: ‘She laughed.’

Earlier, Mr Vallender said mum-of-three was ‘quite upset’ as she had argued with a friend who had left earlier.

Kate Lumsdon QC, for the defendant, asked: ‘Was she so upset at the time, Mr Vallender, that she was talking at some point of taking her own life?’

Mr Vallender said she did not.

He told jurors after returning home in a taxi just after 6am on July 30 he and Rowan-Davies returned to his home in Salt Meat Lane, Gosport.

Text messages show Mr Vallender sent a message to the defendant, and said: ‘You need to call me, I think Kelly is dead.’

Seconds later at around 3.15pm there was a one minute and 46-second call between the pair when the defendant called. Mr Vallender told jurors he did not remember what was said.

Then, he sent a message again saying: ‘It’s not her house, I just looked on Portsmouth News.’

At 3.45pm he tried to call the defendant again. Then at 5.15pm he made a zero-second call to 999, before then having a 15-minute call to 999 later on.

Mr Vallender told police he had seen Ms Case, handed over his phone and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was released with no further action.

Mr Vallender told jurors a relative of Ms Case told him of her death. ‘At first I thought it was a joke but then I saw the social media and I was in shock and panic also because I would have been one of the last people to see her.’

Rowan-Davies is accused of returning to Ms Case’s home, killing her and mutilating her body and setting a fire. He denies murder and arson.

(Proceeding)