Susan Whiting murder trial: Walsall woman 'drugged, raped, killed and hidden under bed'

Susan Whiting, 20, was attacked with a blunt object and discovered with a fractured skull, her wrists bound and a plastic bag over her head, the prosecution said at the opening of the murder trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Steven Beards, 34, of Bentley, West Midlands, is accused of murdering and raping Ms Whiting in Bloxwich last August while wife Julie Beards, 35, of Walsall, is also accused of murder. Both deny the charges.

Opening the case, prosecutor Gareth Evans said Ms Whiting had been invited to have dinner and stay the night by Mrs Beards on August 17 last year when she was drugged.

He said: "They killed her by hitting her on the head with a blunt object, probably this hammer and by compressing her neck.

"Why she was killed remains a mystery. Was it all about sex or was it a grudge also being settled?"

The court heard Ms Whiting's mother Maureen was due to pick her daughter up from the property the following afternoon.

Mr Evans said: "She never did, because we say that by the time that she arrived, Susan had been drugged, raped and killed and hidden under the single divan bed.

"Susan was a friend of Julie Beards and had on occasions visited Julie and had stayed overnight at the bungalow.

"It seems however that Julie Beards resented the fact that Susan had other friends and felt that their friendship was cooling."

A post mortem revealed that Ms Whiting was struck to the head at least three times and traces of "sedating hypnotic drug" Zoplicone was found in a blood sample.

Mr Evans said: "She had never been prescribed that drug and had no reason to take it."

As part of the prosecution opening, Mr Evans said the couple had been covertly recorded while they were being taken to court.

According to the prosecution, Mr Beards said to his wife: "I need to stay out and look after the house. You'll get a lighter sentence all right, I'll come and visit you and I'll keep sending you money.

"Just say it was an accident and you lost your temper, you know what I mean. Can you do that for me bab?

"If you can take this rap for me... would you be able to do that? If I go down, you are coming with me."

She replied: "Don't start, I haven't done anything wrong."

Mr Beards said: "You are involved as I am, I'm gonna spend the rest of my life behind bars. I've done what you asked me to do."

The jury also heard Mrs Beards was aware of the effects of Zoplicone as she had drugged a friend.

Mr Evans said: "There is evidence to suggest that she had, whilst visiting, Matthew Herbert, slipped it into his coffee and watched him fall into a deep sleep.

"She had been experimenting with the drug and knew its effects."

The trial is due to last three weeks.