Man killed teenager after evening out and left her physique in reservoir

Lewis Haines killed Lily Sullivan after assembly her at Out nightclub, previously generally known as Paddles nightclub, in Pembroke, south-west Wales, on December 16 final yr.

The 31-year-old admits murdering Ms Sullivan, however denies it was sexually motivated.

A trial of details is being held at Swansea Crown Courtroom to find out whether or not there was a sexual component to the killing earlier than Haines could be sentenced.

The courtroom heard how Ms Sullivan was found face down in Mill Pond, a two-mile lengthy contemporary water reservoir close to the city.

She had been strangled and was not carrying the cream lace crop prime she had been pictured in that evening.

Simply hours earlier than, she had been seen partying with mates within the membership the place she had met Haines by means of their mutual pal Charlene Jones.

In an announcement learn to the courtroom, Ms Jones stated: “I might inform he was making an attempt to speak Lily up. He was shopping for her drinks and standing near her.

“He was being very flirtatious along with her. I feel he needed to have intercourse along with her.”

After the membership closed, Ms Jones stated she noticed Haines and Ms Sullivan stroll away down the road collectively and shouted: “You’ve obtained a girlfriend and a child at residence. She’s solely 18.”

CCTV footage exhibits Haines and Ms Sullivan ended up in Morgans Approach, an alleyway resulting in Mill Pond.

William Hughes QC, prosecuting, stated “a considerable a part of the incident” should have taken place there as a result of it was the placement the place Ms Sullivan’s cellphone and Haines’ baseball cap had been later discovered.

Two individuals dwelling close by the alleyway stated they heard a person and lady arguing within the early hours of the morning, with one witness saying she heard a girl scream.

Throughout this time, Ms Sullivan’s mom Anna – who was supposed to choose her daughter and pal Lara Wooden up at 2am – was turning into involved.

She finally spoke to Ms Wooden who informed her she was not with Ms Sullivan.

After dozens of calls and textual content messages to her daughter, Ms Sullivan answered the cellphone and informed her mom she would meet her at a close-by storage, however she by no means arrived.

She final spoke to her daughter simply earlier than 3am when Ms Sullivan answered the cellphone once more and stated she was simply “minutes away”.

The cellphone name was minimize off mid-sentence.

Someday later Ms Sullivan’s mom stated she noticed a person strolling casually previous her automobile swinging his arms earlier than his behaviour modified and he started wringing his arms, shaking his head and operating throughout the highway.

Mr Hughes informed the courtroom on Monday: “Whereas she’d not seen him earlier than, her description of the person is just like Lewis Haines.

“The prosecution imagine the individual Anna Sullivan noticed was her daughter’s killer.”

Haines arrived residence at 3.40am and informed his girlfriend Maisie John: “I’ve strangled someone. They’re in Mill Pond.”

Ms John stated Haines’ denims had been damp and he had blood on his arms.

She stated he was “hysterical” and repeatedly requested to be taken to his mom’s home.

Admitting to her whereas within the automobile: “I feel she’s useless.”

He later informed his mom that Ms Sullivan had referred to as him a rapist and hit him, and that he had strangled her, hit her and pushed her into the water.

Haines claimed to have tried to tug Ms Sullivan out of the water however stated she was a “useless weight”.

Ms Sullivan was declared useless at 6.02am regardless of paramedics’ makes an attempt to revive her.

A autopsy examination revealed she had bruising to her face and had been strangled, however there was no proof she had been sexually assaulted.

Central to understanding whether or not the crime was sexually motivated or not is when Ms Sullivan’s prime was eliminated, the courtroom was informed.

The prosecution imagine the bralette was eliminated whereas Ms Sullivan was on land.

Defence barrister John Hipkin QC stated when the merchandise arrived on the laboratory, it was famous as being “barely damp”.

Crime scene investigator for Dyfed-Powys Police Alexander Morgan confirmed the highest was dry when he recovered it, however stated it was a chilly day and he was carrying two pairs of gloves.

Haines, a father-of-one, of Flemish Courtroom, Lamphey, beforehand denied murdering Ms Sullivan however pleaded responsible every week earlier than his trial was as a result of start.

He might face a life sentence with a minimal time period of 30 years if Choose Paul Thomas finds the killing was sexual, in contrast with a minimal time period of 15 years if he doesn’t.