Louise Smith trial: CCTV revealed defendant Shane Mays wasn't in the places he had told police

Shane Mays, 30 from Somborne Drive, Leigh Park, is on trial for the murder of Louise Smith, 16.

He denies murder but has admitted manslughter.

At Winchester Crown Court, witnesses are being called forward this week to recall what happened.

On May 14, Shane Mays and his wife Chazlynn, known as CJ, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap. After this, Mays was questioned by Detective Constable Luke Donovan, in three separate interviews.

The third, at 9.37pm on May 15, saw Det Con Donovan question the defendant on his whereabouts when Louise went missing.

He claimed he had been to Tesco, and lost sight of Louise as she walked towards Emsworth Skate Park, where she was meeting a friend.

But CCTV footage indicated he hadn’t been to either of these places on May 8.

Questioning Mays, Det Con Donovan said: ‘We’ve not been able to find you on CCTV at Tesco at the time you said.

‘We repeated what you said and other people have been out at that Tesco, and they can’t find you.

‘They haven’t found you on any of the CCTV on any of the routes you took.’

At this time, Mays’ adviser handed Det Con Donovan a written statement, which said: ‘I’m in no way involved in Louise’s kidnap. I’ve not caused her any harm or committed any crime in relation to her in any way.’

In a previous interview, Mays told the detective that he didn’t have many friends.

His circle included his wife CJ, his mum and Louise, once she moved in.

A written statement from childhood friend Thomas Dickson, which was read out in court, confirmed this.

He said: ‘I’ve known Shane since we went to Warren Park Primary School. During school years he didn’t have many friends.

'Myself and Shane, with others, would regularly go and camp in Havant Thicket. We would chop wood and set up fires.

‘We stopped talking around four years ago. He met his wife and moved on.’

Mays also told police about his distrust of Louise’s boyfriend Bradley Kercher, who also briefly lived with them.

‘Brad was trouble,’ he said.

‘Lying and getting her friends to lie – there was just something about him that I didn’t like.

‘Louise also liked to spread a lot of lies about people, she’s been found out quite a few times by her mum.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as less adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts from £2 a month for the first two months.