Jury warned against 'speculation'

Lukasz Reszpondek admits preventing the lawful burial of Ermatati Rodgers

A jury has been told not to conclude that a dairy worker is guilty of murder because he buried a woman's body in a shallow grave.

Lukasz Reszpondek, 28, denies murdering Ermatati Rodgers, 41, but admits burying her in the Wrexham countryside.

His lawyers have argued that Ms Rodgers died suddenly of natural causes, and likened her unexpected death to that of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately.

The case was being summed up at Mold Crown Court, where the trial continues.

Defending barrister Jeffrey Samuels QC said Polish-born Mr Reszpondek, of Gwersyllt, Wrexham, behaved reprehensibly after failing to call for help when he discovered Ms Rodgers' body at his home in Rhostyllen.

However, this, and the fact he hid the body and lied to police, did not make him a murderer, Mr Samuels said.

The jury has been told she was strangled to death, but the defendant claims he discovered Ms Rodgers' body when he came downstairs after taking a shower.

Death does strange things to people, causing them to sometimes behave in a bizarre manner Jeffrey Samuels QC

Mr Samuels said Ms Rodgers could have died from natural causes and unexplained sudden death syndrome could not be ruled out.

The pathologist in the case had dismissed that, saying she was in the wrong age group.

However, referring to the sudden death of 33-year-old Boyzone singer Stephen Gately in October, Mr Samuels said: "Try telling that to the family of Stephen Gately."

He said it was the defence case that Indonesia-born Ms Rodgers died of natural causes, and Mr Reszpondek had panicked in a foreign country where he did not trust the police and buried her body.

He added: "Two people, Ermatati Rodgers and Lukasz Reszpondek, from very different parts of the world and of very different backgrounds. Each came to make their home here in north Wales, hoping for a better life.

"Two people who met by chance at work in 2004 who became and remained good friends.

"Now one is dead and the other is in the dock charged with her murder.

"Tomorrow you will decide his fate."

Mr Samuels warned against "wild speculation", saying there was no evidence Mr Reszpondek had strangled her in temper.

He said Mr Reszpondek made a "monumental bad decision" by not calling for help when he discovered Ms Rodgers' body.

However, he said: "Death does strange things to people, causing them to sometimes behave in a bizarre manner."

The judge, Mr Justice Lloyd Jones, will complete his summing up on Friday morning, after which the jury will retire to consider its verdict.