‘Ex wanted to impress’ murder accused

STAFF and regulars at the pub where Claire Holland was last seen told a court she left at one point to buy “bra inserts” from Primark as she was going to meet her ex-partner Darren Osment – and had wanted to “dress to impress” him.

Osment, 41, is on trial accused of murdering her as he blamed her for their child being taken into care.

Bristol Crown Court heard she had told fellow drinkers at the Seamus O’Donnell pub in Bristol that she was planning to meet him that evening. They said she left alone just after 11pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, and had not seen or heard from her since.

Paul Brayford, the landlord, said both Osment and Claire had been regulars at the pub while they were a couple and he had continued visiting often after they had separated.

That day she came in alone for the first time in a while and asked if she was “barred”.

He added: “She was larger than life, happy, a bit over the top, in good stead. She said she was going to see Darren that evening.

“She was excited. She said she was going to Primark to go and buy some nice clothes.

“She said she was going to make herself look nice for him

“I thought they had not got back together but sorted things out between them.”

Mr Brayford said Claire drank a pint of Guinness when she first arrived and then went on to drink rose and white wine.

He said he saw her have about five drinks before his shift ended at 6pm.

When he went back downstairs to help close up, he said Claire was still in the pub.

“She had had a few to drink but was not falling over drunk,” he added. “She was still talking about seeing Darren. She said she was going off to meet him but didn’t say where.”

Mr Brayford said he saw Osment, who denies murder, in the pub the following day.

He added: “He said he had no intention to meet her that night – and never did. He was working late. He said he had a phone call from her that day. He was light-hearted, very happy.”

Emma Walters, who worked behind the bar that day, said Claire had begun to irritate one of the regulars.

She added: “She was talking to him about something he didn’t want to talk about – going to get something for her bra – something Darren wanted as she said he wanted to get someone with bigger boobs.”

The case continues.