The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in a row over a child support, have retired to consider their verdict.

Jerome McDonald is accused of strangling his ex- partner Janelle Duncan-Bailey, after the fight at his home in Fairlands Avenue, Thornton Heath.

The dad-of-three, 31, is alleged to have killed Miss Duncan-Bailey, a special needs school nurse, after she revealed to his new girlfriend he was the father of her two-year-old son, Khamal.

It is alleged Mr McDonald dumped the 25-year-olds body in his car boot, before posing as a concerned friend as her family and police frantically search for her.

Prosecutor Edward Brown said Mr McDonald had lied "again and again" to cover his tracks, but giving evidence earlier this week Mr McDonald said he acted in self defence.

The Old Bailey heard in police interviews, Mr McDonald claimed he had pushed Miss Duncan-Bailey away as she attacked him with a hammer, causing her to fall and fatally bang her head."

 

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