Prosecutor Joel Smith KC told jurors the killing was "an act of petty revenge after a fight between Mr Mitchell and the first defendant, in this case at a nightclub a couple of years previously". The "trivial motive" dated back to May 2019 when Mitchell allegedly hit Veii in the face and Veii's friend was knocked over by a car after a fight broke out between their groups at Granaries nightclub in Croydon.
According to police, deputies responded Thursday afternoon to a report of CPR in progress at a residence in Ooltewah, about 20 miles outside of Chattanooga. First responders located a female victim and attempted life-saving measures, but were unable to revive her, cops said. Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, detectives from the HCSO's Criminal Investigative Services were then called to scene.
The 45-year-old alleged girlfriend of the murder suspect is now in jail in Martinez. Authorities say she broke into the home where the murders took place and stole evidence - specifically cellphones - and then destroyed and disposed of the evidence in trash cans near where she lives in Oakland.
Sam Haldane, defending, told the court his client claims he did not wipe the device. The barrister described Mr Flanagan-Clark, a father of two from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, as a "distinguished officer" of "previous unblemished record and as I understand it the youngest detective inspector within the country". He added the defendant has worked in policing across Westminster, Kensington, Hammersmith and Fulham, Barnet, Harrow and Hackney.