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Wednesday, 14 November 2007, 15:32 GMT

Man guilty in jogger murder case

Jogger killer's evidence trail

Garath Davies A man described as a loner has been convicted of murdering a Harrods shop worker found buried in a shallow grave in a park where she went jogging.

Garath Davies, 23, was convicted of killing Egeli Rasta in Mitcham Common, south London, in July 2006.

The 27-year-old Estonian was reported missing a day after finishing work and her body lay undiscovered for 12 days.

Davies, from Mitcham, south London, and originally from Llanelli, denied murder and perverting the course of justice.

The court heard that Miss Rasta, who was "fit, athletic, and quite strong", lived near Mitcham Common and would often jog and sunbathe there.

She disappeared on 4 July - a day after working a shift at the LK Bennett concession at Harrods.

Mark Ellison, prosecuting, said Davies was "something of a loner" who spent quite a lot of time on the common alone or with his black Staffordshire terrier, Tyson.

Precisely what happened to Miss Rasta was unclear because her body was decomposed so badly a pathologist was unable to establish the cause of death.

"This horror will never end for me and my family"
Egeli Rasta's mother Sirje

Egeli Rasta

A knife stained with her blood was found in a sack in Davies' holdall, alongside two homemade sex toys.

This was coupled with the fact that the victim was found naked, "clearly suggesting a sexual motive", Mr Ellison said.

Davies told the court that at the time he was "chain smoking" cannabis and was "very stoned" on the day Miss Rasta was killed.

Davies later told police: "I'm afraid I might have done it. I can't remember."

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Miss Rasta's mother Sirje said: "This horror will never end for me and my family.

"Egeli's nine-year-old sister has asked me a million times: 'Where is she? Is she still far away? Why wouldn't she come home?'

"I have no courage nor the knowledge to explain to her what has happened."

Davies will be sentenced on 14 December.




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Related to this story:
Jogger death accused was 'stoned' (08 Nov 07 |  London )
Jogger 'buried in shallow grave' (24 Oct 07 |  London )
Man denies killing Estonian woman (01 Dec 06 |  London )
Man in court over jogger's death (18 Jul 06 |  London )

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