What has happened in the Samantha Murphy murder trial so far as Charlie Jeans denies killing her

A man is on trial this week for the murder of a mum-of-three from Portsmouth.

Charlie Jeans, 30 from Margate Road, Southsea, is on trial for the murder of Samantha Murphy. The 32-year-old’s body was found at a property in Wadham Road, North End, in the early hours of June 5 last year.

Jeans denies the charges.

This week, Jeans’ trial has got underway, with opening arguments being laid out before the prosecution began calling forth evidence. Here’s everything that has happened in the trial so far.

What did the prosecution say?

Prosecutor Joanna Martin KC told the court that Jeans went on the run after murdering Samantha, ending up at a property in Midway Road, Hilsea, where a friend called Richard Palmer lived.

He stayed there for a few days, drinking non-stop for three, until Mr Palmer was informed that he was wanted by police and phoned 101.

Ms Martin explained that when police found Samantha’s body at the address in Wadham Road, they also found a Ring doorbell camera in the dustbin, as well as a broken wine glass, both of which were recovered as evidence.

Ms Martin said: “We suggest it’s clear from the evidence that they were arguing, and Jeans expressed his anger by saying he would kill her.

“During the course of that argument, we know he grabbed her and put pressure on her neck. She was vulnerable, and he used enough force to stop the oxygen going to her brain, and caused a cardiac arrest.”

What is Jeans’ defence?

Jeans, who answered “no comment” to all police questions when first interviewed, has pleaded not guilty to Samantha’s murder.

In his defence statement, Jeans told the court that in the immediate aftermath, he thought Samantha was “either sleeping or unconscious”, and that he “didn’t appreciate” the severity of her injuries until her returned to the address.

Having left her body in her home, Jeans returned later that night to collect his belongings, the court heard.

Who has given evidence so far?

Initial medical evidence from a post-mortem into Samantha’s death found that the alcohol in her system was more than double the drink-driving limit, but this did not factor into her medical cause of death.

External haemorrhaging was found on her skin - under the eyelids, and around her neck and face - consistent with “a sustained application of force”.

The court has also heard from Richard Palmer, who told the jury he housed Jeans until finding out he was wanted by police.

He also alleged that Jeans tried to get him, and others, “banged up with him”, describing the defendant as “slimy as f***”.

He said: “When I found out, I was scared of him a bit, but at the same time I thought he was an idiot for doing it. Like, him being in my house would have made me an accomplice, and he was trying to get everyone else banged up with him.

“It made me feel sick, how that can even go through your head. I think he realised that he’d left those kids without their mum, that’s when he started to come out of it.”

What is happening in court today?

Once the jury had left the courtroom yesterday (Tuesday, June 9), both prosecution and defence barristers told Judge Adam Feest KC that they needed some time to agree on some matters.

During a trial, the prosecution and defence must jointly produce a document of agreed facts, copies of which are given to the jury.

These are statements covering non-controversial background information, dates, forensic results, or undisputed technical details - such as crime scene photos.

While the case is listed today, The News understands that the solicitors are spending the day trying to hash out these agreed facts, following Mr Palmer’s evidence yesterday.