Killer 'raped to re-enact attack'

A convicted murderer released from his life sentence on parole raped a woman to re-enact elements of a murder he committed 22 years ago, a court heard.

Mark Shirley imprisoned the woman in her Bristol home, raping and sexually assaulting her with a knife, in a three-hour ordeal, jurors heard.

He denies all the charges against him, including rape and false imprisonment.

Shirley, 39, was jailed for life in 1987 for murdering 67-year-old Mary Wainwright in her Cardiff flat.

'Chilling ordeal'

He was freed in 2003 on parole.

Crown prosecutor Rosaleen Collins told Bristol Crown Court that it was difficult to imagine a "more frightening, more bizarre and more chilling ordeal" than the one that took place on 20 March.

Giving evidence, the alleged victim, 39, told the jury she was "frightened" when she unexpectedly discovered the defendant sitting on a chair in her kitchen, looking "pale" and "starey".

She told the court: "He said he once knew a lady, a sweet lady, and her name was Mary.

"He kept saying I was a trustable and sweet lady like her.

I kept thinking: 'Oh my God, I'm not going to be picking up my children today' Alleged victim

"He treated me like Mary. I firmly believe he was talking to Mary."

She said Shirley told her he had left a 2p piece and an "ornamental knife" on Mary's body.

Jurors had been told by Ms Collins when the trial opened on Thursday that Shirley's 1987 murder trial had heard there were "ritualistic elements" to that crime, and that the defendant had placed a 2p piece on his victim's abdomen.

Continuing her evidence, the woman said she pleaded with the defendant not to attack her but he ignored her.

"I was scared. I didn't want him to do it. I wanted him to stop.

"I kept thinking: 'Oh my God, I'm not going to be picking up my children today'."

Text messages

The attack only came to an end when, by chance, the woman's son visited the house, the court heard.

Speaking on Friday, defence barrister Nicolas Gerasimidis told the court that Shirley had been engaged to the alleged victim's best friend.

The alleged victim had exchanged text messages with Shirley on the morning of the rape, jurors were told.

They also heard that she only knew about the details of the murder committed by Shirley in 1987 because her friend had told her.

Shirley, of no fixed address, faces one count of rape, one of false imprisonment, three counts of assault by penetration and one count of committing false imprisonment with the intention of committing a sexual offence.

The trial continues.