Louise Smith trial: Shane Mays 'brutally' killed teenager before burning 'violated' body in sexual murder

Shane Mays, 30, attacked 16-year-old Louise Smith in Havant Thicket having lied to police about her disappearance on May 8 this year, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Louise, a trainee veterinary nurse at Havant and South Downs College, vanished at 12.49pm on VE Day.

Her body was found at around 11.45am on May 21, some 13 days later following an extensive police search.

Jurors were told Louise was living with her aunt Chazlynn Mays, known as CJ, and her husband, the defendant, in Ringwood House in Leigh Park, in the two weeks before her death.

Prosecutor James Newton-Price QC said Mays had been arrested for kidnap on May 14, and he told police that he had walked Louise to a skate park near Emsworth on the afternoon of May 8.

‘He said he had left her there in the early afternoon of that day. That was a lie,’ the prosecutor said.

‘In fact Shane Mays and Louise Smith had walked to Havant Thicket… and Shane Mays killed her there.’

Mays has now admitted the manslaughter of Louise. He denies murder.

Mr Newton-Price said: ‘This was a cruel and brutal murder.’

He added: ‘Louise’s body was found in Havant Thicket at 11.45am on May 21 following an extensive search by the Hampshire police.

‘Louise had been missing for 13 days by then.

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‘A determined attempt had been made to destroy her body. It was so badly burnt and damaged by fire as to be unrecognisable.

‘Her body had been subjected to extreme violence and violation.

‘This included repeated and heavy blows to her head.

‘The bones and the structure of her face had been shattered.

‘Her jawbone was completely detached from the skull.’

He added: ‘There are grounds to believe that part of the motivation for her murder was sexual.’

Mays had thrown her phone and phone case, the court heard.

He was seen on CCTV in Swanmore Road leaving Havant Thicket before he walked to his mother’s home in Stratfield Gardens where he was ‘sweaty’ and ‘thirsty’.

Louise was ‘vulnerable,’ the prosecutor said as she took antidepressants and suffered from anxiety. Her friends said she was easily-led and impressionable.

In April she ‘quarrelled’ with her mother Rebecca Cooper and went to live with her aunt not far from Louise’s mother’s home, Mr Newton-Price said.

(Proceeding)

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