Men used 'TV murder techniques'

Two men murdered their half-brother then tried to evade capture by copying techniques from the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a court has heard.

Andrew Scanlan, 35, was killed by Mark Baigent, 27, from Peterborough and James Baigent, 30, of Sandhurst, Surrey, the jury was told.

Alongside Jeff Woods, 35, of Bracknell, Berkshire, they deny the murder in Aldershot, Hampshire.

All three are on trial at Cambridge Crown Court for Mr Scanlan's murder.

Prosecutor Timothy Spencer said the Baigent brothers were full of "hate" for their half-brother - dating back to 1998 when Mark Baigent had been jailed for attempted robbery after Mr Scanlon reported him to police.

Mr Scanlan, from Peterborough, was lured to Aldershot under the pretext of organising their mother's will, jurors heard.

The three then beat and stabbed the jobless father-of-three to death before chopping off his head and hands, and burying his body parts in two graves, it is alleged.

As soon as Woods realised police had evidence he changed his attitude and accepted involvement Timothy Spencer QC

The prosecution said they then copied techniques from the US TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to remove clues from a car.

The defendants used police fluorescent lights and sticky-tape wrapped around their hands to remove any fibres.

Mr Woods, a tree surgeon, is alleged to have been having an affair with James Baigent's wife Charlotte Baigent.

She is also in court facing two charges of assisting in the cover-up and perverting the course of justice.

Led to graves

The court heard police found Mr Scanlan's remains after Mr Woods crumbled under pressure in a police interview.

The jury watched a video of a hand-cuffed Mr Woods leading officers to the burial site in dense woodland at Sandy Hill, near Aldershot, Hampshire.

Mr Spencer said: "As soon as Woods realised police had evidence, he changed his attitude and accepted involvement, passing more blame on the Baigent brothers."

Mr Woods claimed he was not involved with the murder but admitted helping in the disposal of Mr Scanlan's body, the court heard.

Pathologists were unable to say exactly how Mr Scanlan died as he was so badly beaten but confirmed he was stabbed in the chest.

DNA evidence

Mark Baigent told Mandy Arzomanides, his late mother's best friend, about the murder when the pair were on a trip to Greece within days of the killing.

Mr Spencer said Mrs Arzomanides kept a record of what Mr Baigent told her and read extracts from a confession to the jury.

He said: "James beat him with a baseball bat. Andrew was pleading for his life. We kept hitting him with the baseball bat but he kept hanging on and wouldn't die. Then Mark broke his neck.

"James' mate stabbed him and we put him in a shallow grave and covered him up. The killing had been planned for eight years.

"James and Jeff had gone back to move the body then they chopped Andrew's head off with an axe."

Among the forensic evidence gathered by police is an axe that was found at Mr Wood's home, in Sandhurst, Hants. DNA evidence linked Woods to the scene of crime.

The trial continues.