'Foreign squatter' killed cleaner

Jean Bowditch's body was found by an elderly house owner

A man accused of murdering a Cornish cleaner has said a foreign squatter carried out the killing.

Gary Chester-Nash, 28, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to murdering 59-year-old Jean Bowditch at Cabris Bay on 12 October last year.

She was stabbed nine times in what the prosecution described as a "brutal and horrific" killing.

Mr Chester-Nash told Truro Crown Court a squatter named Angel admitted to him that he had killed her.

"He did not give her a chance. He just killed her," he told the court.

He told the court he was a "burglar" with 18 convictions and had travelled to Penzance, to "look" for opportunities to commit crime.

He (Angel) did not give her a chance. He just killed her Gary Chester-Nash

The defendant said he broke into a bungalow at Lelant on 10 October and on the morning of 12 October, he broke into a cottage yards from the house in Carbis Bay where he and Angel were squatting.

Mr Chester-Nash, who claimed he had no knives on him, said he went to rob the bungalow next door to where Mrs Bowditch was killed but decided against it when he noticed someone was in.

He told the court that while this was happening, Angel went into the bungalow next door and killed Mrs Bowditch.

Mr Chester-Nash said he discovered her body after he noticed Angel had disappeared. He tried to put her into the recovery position because he felt "responsible" for what had happened.

He told the court he did not think Angel was capable of murder but when he went back to where they were squatting, Angel was there with two knives covered in blood.

The trial continues.