Mary-Ann murder accused 'lied'

Mary-Ann was raped and tortured before her death

One of the six men accused of murdering Mary-Ann Leneghan has admitted lying to police, Reading Crown Court has heard.

Mary-Ann Leneghan, 16, and a friend were abducted by a gang before her body was found in the town's Prospect Park in May 2005. She was stabbed 40 times.

Jamaile Morally, of Balham, London, said he was unaware what was going to happen to the pair in the park and had not encouraged anyone to murder them.

Mr Morally, 22, continues to deny abduction, rape and murder charges.

Hotel room

Mary-Ann was abducted with her friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and taken to a hotel room where they were both allegedly tortured and sexually abused before being taken out to die, the court has heard.

Mary-Ann's friend, who is now 19, survived being shot in the head.

Mr Morally told the court on Friday that he had not shot Mary-Ann's friend "as he had not been in the park at the time".

He admitted being at the hotel where the girls were taken.

Mr Morally said he had only become aware the two girls were in the boot of the car when they were already setting off to the hotel.

The court heard Mr Morally eventually handed himself in to police a short time after the 16-year-old was murdered.

He also denied assaulting both Mary-Ann's friend and the murdered schoolgirl.

Plea change

Mr Morally's brother Joshua, 23, also of Balham - who earlier pleaded guilty to kidnapping the two friends - also admitted a charge of causing actual bodily harm.

However, he continued to deny murder, attempted murder and rape and earlier entered a not guilty plea to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

On Thursday, Mr Morally's co-defendant Michael Johnson, 19, of Southfields, south-west London, changed his plea to guilty on charges of murder, attempted murder and kidnap.

But he continued to deny rape and assault.

The Morally brothers are standing trial with Mr Johnson and Adrian Thomas, 20, of Battersea, south London, Llewellyn Adams, 24, also of Balham, and Indrit Krasniqi, 18, of Chiswick, west London.

All four deny all the charges including Jamaile Morally who faces a separate charge of raping Mary-Ann's friend.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.