Man accused of murdering ex-girlfriend in woodland stream near Catterick after kidnapping her on way to work, court hears

Andrew Pearson is accused of murdering Natalie Harker in woodland at Brough with St Giles near Catterick, North Yorkshire, in October last year.

In a trial hearing at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, a jury heard Pearson had set up a tent in the woodland and “lay in wait” for Ms Harker, 30, who was cycling to work for a shift as a cleaner at approximately 4.30am on the morning of October 9.

She never showed up to her job at a nearby health centre and was later reported missing by her father, with whom she lived.

It is alleged Pearson, 45, ambushed his ex-partner and killed her in the woods, before dragging her into a tent and failing to call emergency services for several hours.

The jury was played a 999 call made by the defendant’s mother, Susan Pearson, later that day at 16.38pm, where she told the operator her son had been on a walk with his girlfriend when she had slipped and fallen into a stream in the woods.

The defendant was then put onto the phone to speak to the call operator, who had to repeatedly tell him to calm down as he wept and appeared to be in a state of distress.

Pearson told the operator: “I’ve been camping for a few days in this woodland area. I met Natalie and we went for a walk and we were going down there when she must have slipped.”

He went on to explain he had dragged Ms Harker’s body from the stream and into his tent, where he repeatedly tried to save her to no avail.

He then told the operator in the 999 recording that he had passed out and woke up to find she was “purple and foaming at the mouth”.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene where Pearson was waiting with his parents, finding Ms Harker’s body underneath a sleeping bag in the tent.

Prosecuting barrister Alistair MacDonald QC said: “Ms Harker had set off to work at 4.30 a fit and healthy person, and the injuries she suffered were anything but natural.

“They were caused by the defendant putting pressure on her neck and immersion in water.”

Ms Harker was described in court as a woman who lived “a sheltered life” and had been in a relationship with Pearson before, lasting 18 months.

On the morning of October 9, Pearson had pitched his tent in a place that “he knew she would pass on her bicycle” and “took advantage of the fact she was a creature of habit”, Mr MacDonald said.

The court heard that a post-mortem carried out on Mr Harker’s body revealed she had died from pressure applied to her neck, while there had been no trauma incurred to her head consistent with a fall.

The pathologist also found bruises to her upper arms, back of her hand and neck, and over-inflated lungs, while semen was also found in the post-mortem. Whether sexual intercourse had taken place before or after Ms Harker’s death was inconclusive, the court heard.

There was also no sign of injuries to the brain, which the court heard would have explained why she was unable to lift her head from the water to breathe.

Pearson, of Chestnut Court, Catterick Garrison, denies murder and kidnap.

The trial at Teesside Crown Court continues.

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