Day two in court (From Free Press Series)

Day two in court

CARDIFF Crown Court yesterday heard how Michael Baldwin murdered his step-daughter, then buried her body in a shallow grave.

But Baldwin had told police Jenna died by accident, after falling down stairs. He said he panicked and hid her body.

The court was listening to David Aubrey QC, prosecuting. He told the court: "After he murdered her he drove her to a secluded wooded area where he buried her body in a grave which was 12-18 inches deep.

"Baldwin subsequently told police he covered her body with earth, with leaves and as he put it, big stones."

The 37-year-old, formerly of Limekiln Road, Pontnewynydd, only revealed the location of Jenna's body after her mother, Desiree, begged her husband to tell her so they could bury her properly.

Mr Aubrey said: "He went about his apparently normal everyday working and family life. Sharing the home with his wife and their two children, Josh and Hannah."

After a number of days the police became involved and they began investigating to try to find Jenna. The search was covered by local and national media.

Mr Aubrey said: "The defendant and his wife took part in this. In some of them the defendant emotionally begged Jenna to come back when he knew all the while she was dead.

"As far as the defendant was concerned it was all a sham."

The dad-of-two wove a web of deceit and pretended to share Desiree's "anxiety and grief" and offered her comfort and support. In fact he was cruelly deceiving her.

The jury of eight men and four women was told Baldwin:

* Made silent and anonymous calls to the house and Desiree's mobile

* Lied to Desiree that Jenna had called and he had spoken to her

* Called his ten-year-old son Josh and whispered pretending to be Jenna saying she would see Josh soon.

* He secretly bought a mobile phone and sent a series of texts to Desiree pretending to be from Jenna.

* He sent Desiree a ring.

* He bought tracing paper to copy Jenna's writing so as to send a letter pretending to be from Jenna.

The court heard Baldwin gave the appearance of trying to help his wife and the police with their inquiries.

Police became suspicious and started observing him and as a result of what they learned they arrested and interviewed him and charged him with murder. During the following days he received visits from Desiree and his children. He still maintained the pretence. There came a point when his wife was begging him to say where her daughter's body was. In one of the conversations she said if it had been an accident he should tell them. If he took them to where the body was things might be easier on him.

Mr Aubrey said the defendant "seized" on this and eventually he confessed to a number of people to what had happened and the police came to see him. Then Baldwin took them to an area called Fiddler's Elbow where some 12 weeks after her disappearance Jenna was found.

Baldwin told the police that Jenna's death had been an accident and he had panicked and buried her.

Baldwin denies murder. He alleges Jenna had come home on September 10 abusing him and shouting at him. She fell down the stairs and when he got to the bottom of the stairs he discovered she was unconscious.

He told the police he intended to take her to hospital but he realised she was already dead and he took her and buried her in the place where she was eventually found.