After 12 gruelling weeks, the trial of Winter Swan-Miller, accused of murdering Andover army veteran Stuart Maxwell Crocker, is reaching its climax.
Following the conclusion of detailed legal arguments, evidence presentation, witness statements, examinations and cross-examinations at Winchester Crown Court, the fate of the defendants now rests in the hands of the jurors.
Judge Angela Morris sent the jury out on Wednesday, July 31, to deliberate on a verdict after she comprehensively summed up three months of arguments for the benefit of the jurors.
With the court not in session on Thursday, August 1, a verdict is expected any time from Friday, August 2.
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The next few days will be crucial for all people involved in the case, as the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the arguments will be meticulously assessed by the jurors.
The prosecution claimed Swan-Miller murdered Mr Crocker in the early hours of June 23.
Mr Crocker's body was only discovered five days later when a neighbour phoned 999 concerned for his welfare.
The prosecution said Swan-Miller then went on a run before she was arrested a week later.
Edward Jones, of Lancaster Avenue, Walsall, is a co-defendant in the case for allegedly providing accommodation and social media access for Swan-Miller for one week from June 23, 2023.
Swan-Miller and Jones are also facing charges of fraud for using Mr Crocker's debit card after his killing.
Both Swan-Miller and Jones have maintained their innocence.
Swan-Miller said she acted in self-defence after being subjected to repeated rapes by Mr Crocker. Describing her relationship with the deceased as 'tumultuous,' she claimed that she was subjected to numerous sexual assaults and that she stabbed Crocker while he was attempting to rape her on the night in question.
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Jones claimed that he didn't know about Swan-Miller's background during the time she stayed with him. He also said he didn't know that the debit card belonged to Mr Crocker.
The trial has garnered significant attention due to the dramatic and harrowing nature of the evidence presented.
The verdict will be a defining moment in the lives of all involved, especially for Swan-Miller, who faces the possibility of a long prison sentence if found guilty.
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