Libby trial on hold due to snow delay
MEMBERS OF JURY UNABLE TO REACH COURT
THE trial of Pawel Relowicz has been halted after three jurors were unable to make it to court because of bad weather.
Thursday was set to be the third day of the trial where Relowicz is accused of raping and murdering Hull student Libby Squire, but it was halted due to heavy snowfall in Sheffield.
Relowicz has denied the charges against him.
After it was revealed the jurors had been unable to get to court, Mrs Justice Lambert told the panel: “As you know, three of your number have not been able to make it because of the weather.
“For that reason we will not be sitting today. Thank you for struggling in through the snow, but we obviously cannot proceed.”
She said the court would try to give them as much notice as possible if the case was unable to proceed on Friday if the poor weather conditions continued.
She wished the jurors a safe journey home and said she hoped to see them on Friday, adding: “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
During the trial opening on Wednesday, Sheffield Crown Court heard how Relowicz was “cruising” around the area of Hull on January 31 when he came across Libby, who was on the corner of Haworth Street and Beverley Road.
The court heard she was likely to be drunk and distressed.
Mr Wright, prosecuting, told the court that Relowicz spotted Libby, walked across the road to Beresford Avenue and “stalked” her before intercepting her.
The pair were seen on CCTV getting into his car on Haworth Street.
Further CCTV footage showed to the jury showed Relowicz and Libby arriving at Oak Road Playing Fields, where it is alleged he raped and killed her.
A man living close to the playing fields is said to have heard “frantic” and “urgent” screaming.
Soon after, the witness said he saw a man “running” from the playing fields.
Mr Wright told the court that after Relowicz had killed Libby he had returned to Newland Avenue and masturbated.
The court heard how a member of the public found a condom in the area which contained semen matching the DNA profile of Relowicz.
Libby’s body was tragically found in the Humber Estuary at Spurn Point seven weeks after her disappearance.
The trial is expected to continue on Friday (January 15).
As you know, three of your number have not been able to make it because of the weather. For that reason we will not be sitting today. Thank you for struggling through snow
Justice Lambert, to jurors