Victim was ‘still in bed’ when I last saw her, says accused
CCTV shows him in bookmakers
A MAN accused of murdering his lover told police she was ‘still in bed’ but had been ‘argumentative' the last time he saw her, jurors heard.
Portsmouth Crown Court saw CCTV footage of Mark Brandford at Betfred in Arundel Street, Portsmouth, watching Aston Villa play at the same time prosecutors say Kayleigh Drunning was already dead.
Colas road sweeper Brandford, 49, denies murdering his 32-year-old lover at his home in Kingston Crescent, North End.
The prosecution said he ‘brutally and ferociously’ attacked her at a point overnight on December 16-17 in 2019 before leaving her in a ‘blood-soaked bed’ to buy a hot chocolate from McDonald’s in the early hours of December 17.
Jurors were
Dunning was missing by her
6.20pm that day.
By around 5.40pm Brandford was already in Betfred when police called him at 6.42pm asking him about missing Ms Dunning.
In the call, played to the court alongside the CCTV footage, Brandford said: ‘The last time I saw Kayleigh it told Ms reported father at was the early hours of the morning.’
He added: ‘Actually I have text her and phone her and I haven’t had no reply from her.’
Asked about her work, he said: ‘Well she said she wasn't too sure whether she was going to go to work or thing.’
He added: ‘She was still in bed, she wasn’t too sure if she was going to go to work or thing.’
He told the police caller that Ms Dunning stayed at his overnight and there had been a marriage proposal.
But he said she had also been ‘argumentative’. He said when her alarm went off she called him by Dean Drooney’s name.
Ms Dunning was in a sexual relationship with Mr Drooney, jurors previously heard.
Marisa Earwicker, a worker at Betfred in Arundel Street, was on shift when Brandford was in the bookmakers.
She told jurors he ‘showed me his marriage licence’.
Statements from witnesses, who saw Brandford on the day, said he was ‘happy and bubbly’ and was telling them he was getting married.
A message from Brandford to Ms Dunning during the day on December 17 partly said: ‘Have you told your mum, dad and Dean you're getting married next year?’
Worried relatives, her dad and brother, messaged and called Ms Dunning in the afternoon, jurors heard. Her brother, in one message, said: ‘Text dad.’ Brandford also sent another message that said: ‘Are you okay princess?’
He added he had not heard from her since 5am, and added: ‘Love you Mrs Brandford-to-be.’
None of the messages received were marked as read on Ms Dunning’s phone, jurors were told.
Brandford also denies a charge of revenge porn relating to him being accused of setting up a fake Facebook profile with intimate images of Ms Dunning.
(Proceeding).
She was still in bed, she wasn’t too sure if she was going to work...
Mark Brandford