A MISSING woman was found dead with her clothes “ripped off” in a man’s shed, a court has heard.
The body of Mariann Borocz, 55, was found by cops behind the home of suspect Christopher Barlow on Pedder Street, Manchester on Christmas Eve last year.
Mariann Borocz’s body was found in December last year
MEN MediaThe trial into her death opened at Manchester Crown Court this week[/caption]
The trial opened at Manchester Crown Court this week.
The court heart that Mariann was seen on CCTV at a convenience store nearby just days before her body was discovered.
Barlow, 60, was seen next to the victim in the store and appeared to buy cans of cider.
Prosecutor James Bourne-Arton KC said: “This is the last time she is seen alive.
“The next time she was seen by someone other than the defendant was on December 21 when she was found dead in the defendant’s shed.
“Her body was naked, her clothes had been cut or ripped off and placed in a nearby bin.”
Barlow, who wore a plain grey top, grey trousers and glasses in the dock, confirmed that he was the man seen in the footage.
The prosecutor continued: “He said she had asked him for £1, and he had given her £10.
“He said that she had then walked off and not come down Pedder Street.
“A quick search of the property was carried out and during this search the defendant said he did not own a mobile phone and did not have access to the shed in his back yard, which he says he never uses.”
Cops then combed through Barlow’s property, where they made the grim discovery.
Mr Bourne-Arton added: “A key to the padlock on the shed was found on the key ring in the possession of the defendant.
“In the shed the deceased’s body was found, the body was naked, and she was obviously dead.”
The prosecutor said that “other than a red mark on her neck there were no obvious signs of injury” and that at this point Barlow was rearrested on suspicion of murder.
He said Ms Borocz’s clothes “which appear to have been ripped off” were found in a nearby bin, along with her phone and handbag containing her passport and bank card.
Elsewhere in the house a sock was found on an ironing board that was found to contain Ms Borocz’s DNA, while police also found a pair of scissors and a knife in the main bedroom.
Mr Bourne-Arton highlighted three possible causes of Mariann’s death – asphyxia, hypothermia or deprivation of food and water.
But Mr Bourne-Arton said: “We do not think it is likely that she was locked in that shed alive, given the surrounding circumstances.”
Barlow denies murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The trial continues.
Mariann Borocz was last seen in a convenience store on December 14
AlamyBarlow denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
