Man accused of helping hide Becky Watts' body parts 'never went in shed'

A man accused of helping to hide the body parts of Becky Watts has told a jury he never went inside the shed where they were stored.

Nathan Matthews, 28, allegedly suffocated the 16-year-old in a sexually-motivated kidnap plot with his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21, on February 19.

Becky's body was moved from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, and dismembered in the couple's bath in Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol.

Her remains, packed in suitcases and a blue plastic storage box, were discovered in a garden shed 80 metres away by police on March 3.

Karl Demetrius, 30, agreed to help Matthews move the items to his shed in Barton Court in the early hours of February 24, with colleague James Ireland, 23, the court heard.

His twin brother, Donovan Demetrius, 30, was staying at the property at the time and arrested there by officers on the night they discovered Becky's body.

Giving evidence to Bristol Crown Court, Donovan Demetrius insisted he had never been inside the shed and was not aware what had happened.

Dean George, representing Demetrius, asked his client: "Had you ever gone into the shed?"

He replied: "No."

Mr George asked: "Did you know what was in the shed?"

Demetrius said: "No."

The court heard Karl Demetrius was promised £10,000 by Matthews to hide the suitcases and box but did not know their contents.

On February 23 - hours before Becky's body was moved to his shed - he texted his brother "He said he will give it to me straight away, tomorrow latest", the court heard.

Donovan Demetrius told the jury that message related to money a friend had promised in exchange for his moped.

He insisted he had never seen Matthews or Hoare in 2015, never discussed them with his brother and did not know of Becky Watts.

The warehouse worker said he felt "distraught, shocked" after hearing his brother had admitted assisting Matthews.

"Angry," Demetrius added. "Why would he put himself in that position? Because I wouldn't."

Mr George asked how Demetrius felt about the fact that Becky's body parts had been found at his brother's home.

"I am horrified," he replied.

"My view is, who in their right mind would do something so animalistic? My heart goes out to her family at the end of the day."

Mr George asked: "How do you feel about the suggestion you knew he was moving Miss Watts?"

Demetrius said: "You must be mad. That's not me."

He told the jury he would have asked about the contents of the suitcases and box if he had been offered £10,000 or £5,000 to move them.

Demetrius said he did not accept any money, adding: "I work long and hard for my money - proper money."

Jurors heard that Demetrius was at home on the night of February 23 to 24, when Becky's remains were moved to Barton Court.

During that evening, he ordered takeaway food, ate it and went upstairs to watch a film on his tablet, he said.

He told the court he had not heard his brother, Matthews and Ireland entering the three-bedroom property and putting items in the shed.

"I had my headphones on," he said. "I was laid in my bed sleeping."

Analysis of Demetrius's mobile phone showed he deleted messages between him and his brother between February 21 to 25.

In cross examination Demetrius claimed this was because his phone had limited memory.

He said he had refused to tell police the passcode for the handset as it contained pictures of his girlfriend.

Demetrius was asked how he felt after hearing evidence during the court case.

"I can't believe that the man, Nathan Matthews, could do such a horrible thing," he said.

"Who in their right mind would dismember their own stepsister? It's sickening.

"I'm here now and he can't even bother to pick up his head and look at the family and see that he has destroyed their lives."

Matthews, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, South Gloucestershire, denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap.

He admits killing Becky, perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Hoare, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, denies murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Karl Demetrius, 30, and his partner Jaydene Parsons, 23, admit assisting an offender.

Donovan Demetrius, of Marsh Lane, Bristol, and Ireland, 23, of Richmond Villas, Avonmouth, deny the charge.