CCTV has captured a murder accused couple carrying a ‘hacksaw’ through Boscombe and selling the victim’s phone to a pawn shop.
Cameras tracked the movements of Debbie Pereira and Benjamin Atkins in the hours and days that followed Simon Shotton’s death.
As reported, Mr Shotton’s severed legs were found on Manor Steps zig zag off Boscombe Overcliff Drive on August 26, 2023.
His headless torso was later found in Boscombe Chine Gardens, his arms at Pereira and Atkins’ flat in Aylesbury Road, and fragments of his skull in Walpole Lane.
The prosecution alleges Pereira and Atkins had murdered Mr Shotton at their flat, where he had been living with them, shortly after 7am on August 18.
Pereira and Atkins are currently facing trial at Winchester Crown Court.
The jury has been shown CCTV of the couple walking through Christchurch Road “arm in arm” at around midday on August 18.
That afternoon, they make two trips to Cash Creators, both of which are captured by in-store cameras.
In the first visit, shortly after midday, they attempt to sell two DVD players, a soldering kit and a glue gun.
In the second visit, made shortly after 5pm, Pereira is seen speaking with a member of staff before being passed Mr Shotton’s phone by Atkins.
They then sell the phone for £15.
On the following day, and shortly before 1pm, the couple is captured on CCTV walking through Christchurch Road again.
Atkins is seen pushing a bike alongside him, which prosecution say has a ‘saw dangling from the handle bars’.
It is alleged the defendants had stolen the saw from Wilko in the Boscombe Sovereign centre a short time earlier.
In a statement read to the court, former Wilko employee Justin Witt confirmed he had seen the CCTV.
He said: “I can confirm that the red handled saw the male in the picture is holding is the same saw we stock in the store."
Mr Witt added that a stock check had taken place at the store, and one saw was missing which was believed to have been stolen.
Atkins, 49, has admitted to charges of perverting the course of justice, and preventing the burial of a corpse, but denies murder.
Pereira, 39, denies perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse, and murder.
The trial continues.
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