Jayden Parkinson murder: Brother 'scared' of Ben Blakely

Jayden Parkinson's body had been buried "in a hurry", the court heard

A man accused of helping his brother dispose of the body of his murdered ex-girlfriend was "scared" of his older sibling, a court heard.

Jake Blakeley, 18, is accused of aiding his brother Ben put Jayden Parkinson's body in their uncle's grave in Didcot.

Oxford Crown Court heard a friend of Jake's say the younger brother was "scared" of Ben, who is serving a life sentence for killing Jayden.

Jake denies the charge of preventing a lawful burial.

The friend also said Ben had threatened him on two occasions and "waved a hammer in my face".

Jayden was strangled by Ben Blakeley, 22, from Reading, in December 2013. He was jailed for life in July for murder.

The court heard how Jayden's body was placed into an existing grave "quickly and without dignity".

Forensic archaeologists told the jury there was evidence the body, found 38 cm from the ground's surface, was buried "in a hurry".

Ben Blakeley was sentenced to life for Jayden's murder in July last year

They said that two different digging styles were discovered at the burial site at All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

One was described as "shallower and weaker" and the other "much deeper and forceful".

The defence said Jake Blakeley, from Abbotts Road, Didcot, had been asked to help his older brother tend their uncle's grave in time for Christmas.

Jurors have previously heard Jake Blakeley had thought he was burying weapons, along with a cat and a dog.

The trial continues.