Pitsea murder trial: Madison Wright 'killed by controlling partner'

The court was told Ms Wright sent messages to Mr Bennett accusing him of being controlling

A "controlling" man murdered his partner before taking her money and pawning her necklace, a court heard.

The body of Madison Wright was found by police at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Essex, on 30 July last year after she was missing for eight days.

Gary Bennett, 37, of Caister Drive, Pitsea, is on trial at Basildon Crown Court charged with murder.

Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC said Mr Bennett also sent messages from the 30-year-old's phone after killing her.

She said: "Looking at her text messages, the crown say she was about to end that relationship, mainly because of his controlling behaviour."

Jurors were told one message from Mr Bennett to the victim said that he was "jealous" of losing her

Ms Ayling, opening her case on Tuesday, told jurors Ms Wright worked as a cleaner and was last seen via a doorbell camera and automatic number plate recognition when she left a client's house at 11:00 BST on 22 July.

In text messages read to the court, she had told Mr Bennett that morning "you're too controlling" and added: "I've not been happy for ages - we've had lots of chances to try to make it work but I just don't think it is."

Ms Ayling said Mr Bennett admitted to police that Ms Wright arrived at his flat at about 11:20 but was only "here for about 10 minutes".

Madison Wright's body was found covered by a fence panel at Wat Tyler Country Park

Jurors were told Ms Wright was "at one time married" and was still in contact with her husband while in the relationship with Mr Bennett.

Jurors were told that at 12:57 Ms Wright's phone sent a message to her husband saying "some stuff has come up at my place that I need to sort out, sorry".

Ms Ayling said: "It's the crown's case that he [Bennett] himself was in possession of Madison's phone and was setting this message up as a sort of alibi that she had gone somewhere and he was not responsible for her disappearance.

"It's the crown's case he had already killed her."

Madison Wright had not been seen, or heard from, since 22 July

The court heard Mr Bennett sold Ms Wright's necklace at a pawnbroker's shop in nearby Grays for £310.

Ms Ayling also said fingerprint recognition was used to log on to Ms Wright's banking phone app that morning, before two sums - £550 and £400 - were transferred to Mr Bennett's account.

Her phone was switched off at 13:35 - the prosecutor said - and Mr Bennett messaged her at 13:48 and wrote: "You come and see me for like five minutes after work then left and told me not to come after you."

'Jealous'

She said Mr Bennett later withdrew cash from a shop ATM and messaged people about transferring them money.

Ms Ayling said the defendant sent a further message to Ms Wright's phone on 24 July saying "talk to me Madison".

The prosecutor said: "We say he had just buried her."

Ms Ayling said a message from Mr Bennett to Ms Wright, sent during their relationship, read: "I think I'm jealous of the fact I might lose you."

The court was told Ms Wright sent him messages saying she did not like him taking "my phone out of my pocket" when she came home and did not like having to video call him while she was out.

The court was told Ms Wright's body was found covered in a pile of shrubs, branches and a fence panel.

Mr Bennett, who denies murder, cried in the dock as the trial opened.

The hearing is due to last three weeks.