THE jury in the murder trial of Ben Blakeley has been warned not to let sympathy for Jayden Parkinson play a part in its decision.
Summing up the evidence in the case this afternoon in Oxford Crown Court Judge Patrick Eccles told the men and women of the jury it was their responsibility to consider all the evidence.
Ben Blakeley, 22, formerly of Christchurch Road, Reading, denies murdering his ex girlfriend on December 3 last year, but admits manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.
His brother Jake Blakeley, 17, of Venners Water, Didcot, admits perverting the course of justice but denies preventing a lawful burial.
Judge Eccles told the jury: "You must put out of your minds any sympathy or compassion you have for Jayden and her family and you must put out of your minds any sympathy to Ben Blakeley for the tough upbringing he had.
"It is for the prosecution to prove the guilt of the defendants - they do not have to prove their innocence in any way at all."
The trial continues.
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