Some of India's last messages were only read a day after she died, jury told

A close friend of India Chipchase sent a Snapchat message to her that was opened a day after she was allegedly murdered, a court heard.

On the second day of the trial of Edward Tenniswood, aged 52, of Stanley Road, Northampton, a jury heard evidence from Grant Hare, who had known Ms Chipchase, aged 20, since September last year.

Mr Hare said he developed a friendship with Ms Chipchase as he was a regular at The Collingtree, where she worked as a barmaid.

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The court heard that on the evening of January 29, Mr Hare, who was celebrating one of his friend’s birthdays, saw Ms Chipchase with her group of friends in The Collingtree.

He said he then moved on to the Wellingborough Road area of Northampton with his friends and visited the Old House, Jekyll & Hyde and Bar So.

Mr Hare said he came aware of a couple of missed calls and messages from Ms Chipchase when he checked his phone in Bar So shortly before midnight.

The jury were told Mr Hare then moved on to Revolution in Bridge Street and later bought a kebab then took a taxi home.

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Mr Hare said that when he got home shortly before 3am, he started recharging the battery on his phone, which was completely flat.

He said he then received a number of missed calls and messages from Ms Chipchase, which had been sent in the past couple of hours.

Mr Hare said: “I tried messaging her and calling her. I sent her a Snapchat message saying ‘My battery died, are you okay?’

The court heard this message was sent at 02.25am but Mr Hare said it was not opened until 03.39am the next day (Sunday, January 31)

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When asked why he had missed the calls, Mr Hare said it had been very loud in the club and he did not hear his phone.

The jury also heard from David Burry, a doorman at NBs, who said he had come into contact with India after a man in the nightclub alerted him to the fact she was very drunk.

Mr Burry said: “She seemed very drunk, she was slumped. The man said ‘my friend’s really drunk can you take her outside?”

The doorman told the jury he helped her out the front of the club and India said to him “I want to go home.”

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Mr Burry said he hailed a cab and then made sure India got inside. He said he had checked she had some money in her purse.

The court heard Mr Burry then went back inside NB’s but was then surprised to find her outside the bar a short while later.

Mr Burry said: “As I came outside she fell into me. She said ‘someone pushed me over’ and then repeated that she wanted to go home.

“I said ‘I just put you in a cab’”.

The doorman said he went back inside the club and found the man who had orginally alerted him to Ms Chipchase and told him what had happened.

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Mr Burry: “I said to him 15 minutes later ‘Did she get home okay?’ and he said ‘I went out the front but she was not there, as far as I know she did get home.”

The jury also heard evidence read from a statement by Andrew Birkinshaw, the driver of the taxi Ms Chipchase was placed in by the NB’s doorman.

He said: “ A young, slim girl was put in my cab by a doorman. She was drunk so I asked for money in advance. She got angry and threw a wobbly.

“I could not understand what she was saying. She made no effort to pay and left my cab. I did not see where she went.”

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The cab driver said the reason he asked for money was that, as Ms Chipchase was drunk she may be sick in his cab or not have the money for the journey.

The court heard that Mr Burry had seen a £10 and £5 note in India’s bag. Mr Birkinshaw said the journey to Ms Chipchase’s home in Wootton would have cost about £10.

Tenniswood denies charges of rape and murder. The trial continues.

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