Boys deny murdering drunk woman

Helen Maughan's body was found two days after she disappeared

Two boys murdered a 24-year-old drunk woman in Essex after they had spent a day drinking, a court has heard.

The pair, aged 13 and 16 at the time, killed Helen Maughan after finding her drunk near her home in Colchester, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

The youths, now aged 14 and 17, both deny murdering the woman in May 2007.

Prosecutors said Miss Maughan vanished on 18 May and her semi-naked body, with 22 separate injuries, was found in the River Colne two days later.

Post-mortem tests showed that she had died from a combination of head injuries and drowning.

Prosecutors said the two boys had been caught on CCTV walking towards the river with Miss Maughan in the late evening.

They were then seen returning with Miss Maughan after midnight, about 90 minutes later.

Initially the younger boy had lied to police about his whereabouts but later blamed the older boy for Miss Maughan's death, the court heard

The case continues.