A judge has warned a jury about graphic evidence they will be shown of injuries inflicted on a Scots mum who was murdered and stuffed in a wheelie bin.
The man accused of murdering mother-of-two Nicola Stevenson and dumping her body appeared in court yesterday for the start of his trial.
Cancer survivor Nicola, 39, was found by a dog walker stuffed in the household rubbish bin.
A post-mortem examination established she died following blunt force trauma to the head.
Richard Canlin is accused of murdering Nicola, originally from Edinburgh, last November in Lewes, East Sussex.
A jury was told he is accused of murdering her between October 10 and November 13, 2019.
Canlin removed a mask so jurors could see his face as they were led into court one by one.
Separated by plastic screens in a Covid-compliant court at Hove, they were warned evidence in the case would be graphic.
Judge Shani Barnes told jurors: “Some of you will be concerned you will have to see the deceased.
“We have digital representations rather than seeing the real people involved.
“Some of them look realistic.
“It is important you see where the injuries were inflicted.
“It’s not like on TV, you’re not here to be terrified.”
Nicola’s body was discovered by a dog walker in undergrowth at a recreation ground in Lewes, East Sussex, on November 13.
Canlin, then aged 41, was charged on November 17.
He denies murder.
The trial at Lewes Crown Court in Hove, expected to last two weeks, continues.
