THE jury in the trial of a man accused of killing a mother during ‘rough sex’ is close to being sent out.

Richard Bailey, 41, denies murdering Charlotte Teeling hours after they met at a shop in Birmingham and said she died accidentally during ‘rough sex’ that she initiated.

Summarising the case for the jury at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Patrick Thomas QC said the evidence of forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar and its comparison with what Bailey told police and the evidence of housing support worker Joanna Dias who visited Bailey’s flat in Cooksey Lane, Kingstanding, Birmingham on February 23, were the “most crucial aspects” of the case.

He said: “What happened before and what happened after that is overwhelmingly agreed and I am going to deal with it extremely briefly.”

Miss Teeling, 33, was found dead in Bailey’s bedroom naked and surrounded by pornographic magazines almost a week later on March 2. Bailey had slept next to the dead body on a few occasions.

Judge Thomas QC read out excerpts of Bailey’s interviews with police as he described what happened in the hours leading up to Miss Teeling’s death.

Bailey said he was squeezing Miss Teeling’s neck during ‘rough sex’ and was startled by a voice he had not heard before coming from somewhere in the house. Bailey said he was “shellshocked” when he heard the noises and froze.

Bailey said he let go of Miss Teeling’s neck and spoke with the person on the other side of the door from the bed for around 30 seconds and when he turned around Miss Teeling was motionless.

When police revealed to Bailey that Miss Dias said he opened the door slightly and was naked, he said: “If that is what she said it is probably right.”

Bailey said he had been drinking the night before and into the morning but Miss Dias’s statement “jogged a bit of a memory” but he could not be entirely sure he opened the door.

Bailey told police he tried to resuscitate Miss Teeling but did not call an ambulance.

When asked by the police the reason why he did not call an ambulance, Bailey said he panicked and was scared that he would be blamed and sent to prison. He attempted CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Bailey said: “I heard different voices and I was panicked. I tried to bring her back round. I was scared. I thought I was going to get the blame and go to prison.

“It didn’t even dawn on me that it was an accident. I just thought it was my fault and I was panicking.

“Later I realised I didn’t intend anything of the sort.”

Judge Thomas QC recalled Dr Kolar’s evidence which said a “significant” use of force was used to cause the injuries and he observed asphyxial signs as well as smothering but could not say if either was the main cause of death.

He also re-read Miss Dias’s statement which said she had heard two separate noises from inside Bailey’s bedroom when she attempted to speak to him on February 23.

Judge Thomas said the fact that Bailey did not give evidence during the trial should not be held against him.

The trial continues.