Escort’s murder trial told student had sex with woman in same street
A MAN accused of murdering an escort told police he had sex with a woman he met on the same street where the prostitute was found dead in an apartment, a court has heard.
Bala Chinda, 26, was detained after officers investigating the death of Jessica McGraa, 36, in Aberdeen last February discovered she had travelled to the block of flats where the Nigerian student lived with a man in a taxi, Mr Chinda’s trial at the city’s high court was told.
The court heard she returned to her apartment on Union Terrace with the man at about 1:02pm on February 11 2016 and was never seen alive again. Her body was later found in the flat.
Surveillance cameras recorded the movements of a black man walking down the street where she was staying soon afterwards heading back to the the student accommodation on King Street.
A camouflage print jacket and blue trainers similar to the clothing worn by the man seen on the CCTV footage were later found during a search of Mr Chinda’s room.
Mr Chinda is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen charged with the rape and murder of Ms McGraa.
He is also accused of stealing her two phones and disposing of them, as well as disposing of his own phone to destroy evidence in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.
Detective Constable Joe McCrystal said he spoke to Mr Chinda as he returned to his student accommodation six days after the woman’s body was found. He told the court that the accused was asked to identify himself and give the officers details of his phone number.
Advocate depute Paul Kearney asked: “I think Mr Chinda claimed it was a new number?”
Mr McCrystal replied: “He said that he had lost his other phone recently.”
Mr Chinda was detained and taken to a police station where under caution, Mr McCrystal said the accused told officers: “On Thursday I met a lady at 10am on Union Terrace. We had sex and I left.”
Defending, Ian Duguid QC, asked the police officer if it was not the case that his client had offered the information after being asked whether he had been on that street on the day of the murder.
However, the officer replied: “No.” Mr Duguid asked: “All the time he was with you was he cool, calm and collected?” The officer replied: “He was very calm.” He added that Mr Chinda appeared to be shocked when he was informed why he had been detained.
Earlier, the trial heard, Mr Chinda had gone to church with his hairdresser three days after Ms McGraa is thought to have died.
Mr Chinda denies the charges and the trial continues.