Friends of doctor’s daughter ‘raped and murdered’ on night out tell how they lost her in nightclub
In the early hours they suddenly could not find their friend and searched for her before assuming she had gone home drunk
FRIENDS of the doctor's daughter allegedly raped and murdered by a stranger after a night of clubbing told the court on day two of the trial how they had lost her during the night. India Chipchase
They said although it was out of character for her to disappear without saying goodbye they assumed she had gone home because she was too drunk after drinking six Jagerbombs in ten minutes.
A book-keeper is accused of brutally raping and strangling India Chipchase after luring her into a taxi outside a cocktail bar.
Edward Tenniswood, 52, is alleged to have killed the doctor's daughter shortly after taking her back to his flat at 2am on January 30.
The Crown's case is that Tenniswood "led, steered or escorted" her to a taxi, and took her back to his rented terraced house in Stanley Road where he "raped and throttled" her.
She was beaten, raped and strangled and her body was found under a sheet on a mattress at 3.45am on Sunday, January 31 in Tenniswood’s flat half-a-mile away from the club.
Tenniswood was later arrested at an Ibis Hotel. He denies charges of rape and murder.
The jury has already heard that Tenniswood is to claim the 20-year-old victim consented to sex and her death was an accident.
Today, during day two of the trial at Brimingham Crown Court, jurors heard India had been dancing and seemed to be having a good time earlier that night at NB's nightclub.
Her pal, Brandon Allford said: "I remember having some banter with her and made a joke she was steaming."
But later that night, in the club, she got upset and started crying about another man with whom she had been having a relationship.
Alice Lewis described how her friend had "a 30-second outburst" about that romance and said: "She just told me they weren't speaking much any more. She was upset."
She wept as she watched footage of their final moments together as they danced in the bar and said: "I looked up and she was gone".
Prosecutor Chris Donnellan QC asked what they did on entering the club, Alice said: "We had Jägerbomb at the bar. We had about six each in 10 minutes.
"India appeared quite drunk, a lot more than me. She was walking wonky"
India and Alice went outside for a cigarette at around 12am and Alice told the court: "India was trying to call Grant [her boyfriend], she was very drunk."
India had showed Alice "marks she had on both her forearms", and was "just crying about everything" but then "she completely changed the subject".
They returned to the bar and Alice said: "At the bar she dropped [her handbag] and everything fell out of it.
"Harry [a friend] was buying drinks. A drink was bought for India, but she didn't get it.
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Harry Moylan, who had just bought the drinks, said: "When I turned around, India wasn't there.
"After about 10 or 15 minutes, Alice and I decided to look for her. It is out of character for her to leave without saying anything."
He added: "We looked everywhere for her but couldn't find her. We thought she'd either gone home, or met up with other friends."
During the search, between 12.45am and 1.15am, Alice tried to ring her friend but, not getting an answer, believed India's mobile was switched off.
CCTV footage shown yesterday to the court showed India leaving the club at about 1am and being approached by a man, as she check her phone while leaning against the entryway.
The prosecution alleges that man was Tenniswood, who begins to talk to India after he was refused entry to the club.
Opening the case on Tuesday, Mr Donnellan said: "He was overheard by others to say, 'not to worry', and he'd get her home safe - he didn't."
The jury heard from witness Patrick Francis who was driving with a friend when they had to pull over.
He was having a cigarette near a BP garage at Stanley Road in Northampton at about 1.45am when he saw a pair cross the road.
He told the court: "I got out of the car and I saw two people by the side of the fence on my side of the road about five or six feet away.
"She seemed as if she was drunk, she was holding onto the railings.
"The guy who was with her was standing there by her side. She was in her 20s, he was older.
"His right arm was round her side. I thought it was strange that he heard me pull up and I said 'alright' and he didn't even turn round.
"He started to help her across the road, he had her by the arm. He didn't seem drunk.
"I saw they went and went into a house a way down the street. He unlocked the door and let her in - she went in first and he went in after her."
When police broke down the door of Tenniswood's home on the Sunday, they found the victim lying on a mattress on the floor of the upstairs front bedroom, covered in a sheet.
She had also suffered blunt force trauma to her head and face.
Prosecutors said there was evidence Ms Chipchase put up a struggle against her alleged attacker, with Tenniswood's blood under one of her fingernails.
After she died it is alleged he dressed her and placed her belongings around his house.
Mr Donnellan said: "It is very likely his motive was sexual and when she resisted him he was determined to have sex and he grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.
"He held her until she was unable to resist any more."
Tenniswood denies charges of rape and murder.
The trial continues.
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