Rikki Neave's 'teen killer stripped and manipulated six-year-old's body to create image of death'

A TEEN murdered and stripped a six-year-old boy before manipulating his body to create the "desired image of it in death", a court heard today.

James Watson was just 13 when he allegedly strangled Rikki Neave just five minutes from his home in Peterborough, Cambs, in 1994.


He then "deliberately posed" the naked youngster into a "star shape with outstretched arms and his legs placed wide apart", it was said.

Jurors were told Watson, now 40, had made no attempt to conceal the body and remained with it for an hour.

Harrowing images of the scene were shown at the Old Bailey today where Watson is on trial for murder.

Prosecutor John Price QC said: "No attempt had been made to conceal the body, quite the reverse.

"Though posed on its back…there were mud stains on his face, the front of the trunk, the outside of the knees, and the soles of the feet.

"The distribution of mud staining would indicate, we suggest, that the killer moved the body about, after he had stripped it of its clothing, until he achieved the pose that he wanted and the pose which would of course be seen when it was found by others.

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"There is evidence to be considered later, which shows, we suggest, that Rikki's killer may have remained in that wood with the child's dead body for up to as long as an hour after the killing.

"Certainly…he will have expended considerable energy and no little time, removing all of the clothing and then manipulating the body to create the desired image of it in death."

The court was told Rikki's missing school uniform was later found in a wheelie bin around 150 yards away.

His laces on the his shoes were still tied, three buttons were missing from his shirt and his jacket contained his underwear and socks and some toys, it was said.

Jurors also heard he had patterned marks on the front of his neck that could have been caused by the zip on his coat – suggesting he was probably attacked from behind.

A post-mortem found the cause of death was "ligature strangulation".

The court was told Rikki's death would have followed within "no less than 30 seconds" from when pressure was first applied.

Mr Price said: "In context, that is quite a long time."

Watson had been seen with the youngster on the day he vanished and was spoken to by police at the time, jurors heard.

But he told "many lies", claimed he did not know Rikki and made no mention of "physical contact", it was said.

The court was told it was only when Watson's DNA showed on Rikki's clothes that he was charged with murder.

Jurors heard the location of the zip marks on Rikki's neck suggest he "didn't see it coming".

Mr Price said he had "willingly" walked into the woods before he was strangled.

He added: "Rikki Neave knew his killer. He felt safe and at his ease with him."

Rikki's mum Ruth Neave later stood trial for his murder but was cleared – leading to a 27-year cold case mystery.

She admitted cruelty towards Rikki and his two sisters in 1996, the court heard.

"Vulnerable" Rikki was known to social services and had been placed on the "at risk register" at the time of his death.

'FUNDAMENTAL ERROR'

Jurors were told the "error" was due to the amount of weight police placed on sightings of Rikki at the time he vanished despite evidence showing he was dead.

Mr Price said: "Much of this reliable evidence was itself acquired during the first investigation, but its true significance and importance was misunderstood or ignored.

"This fundamental error deflected the focus of attention of the investigation. It took it away from where it should have been."

The case was opened again in 2015 and tests on adhesive tape from Rikki's clothes showed a DNA match with Watson.

The court heard he was seen with Rikki on the day he disappeared and was spoken to by police as a witness.

A youth had also been seen walking out of a cul-de-sac where Rikki's clothes were later recovered, jurors were told.

At the time, Watson was "exhibiting a grotesque interest in the subject of child murder", it was said.

Teachers also allegedly noticed a "conspicuous pre-occupation with the extensive reporting of the fate of Rikki Neave".

The trial continues.



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