Killer hid body of Nicole Cartmell, claim

An alleged killer concealed the body of his teenage girlfriend under the floorboards of his lounge before constructing a "cunning and clever" charade to cover his tracks, a court heard.

Stephen Devesey is accused of murdering 18-year-old Nicole Cartmell, originally from West Bromwich, almost three weeks before her decomposing body was found at his home in Handsworth.

The ex-Walsall College student, who had a newborn baby and had been living with her mother, was reported missing on Valentine's Day last year.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, prosecutor Timothy Barnes QC said Devesey, 21, killed Miss Cartmell by asphyxiating her shortly after she made a "frightened" 999 call.

Devesey denies murder on between February 10 and March 2 last year.

Mr Barnes alleged: "What caused him to kill her we do not know. When he had killed her, the defendant prised up floorboards in the front room and dropped the body into the cellar 7ft below. He covered the body with clothing and rubbish."

Jurors were told that Devesey, used the victim's bank card four times before her body was discovered at his terraced home in Whateley Road in March last year.

The court heard Devesey sent a text to her mother saying he would look for her.

"Of course it was all a charade. Quite a cunning and elaborate charade," Mr Barnes said.

The case continues.