An alleged killer cooked a care worker a last meal

An alleged killer cooked a care worker a last meal before his deranged flatmates strangled her and dumped her body in the Thames, a court heard.

Gary Richardson, 43, told the Old Bailey he caught lovers Kevin Phillipson, 23, and Corrina Young, 20, throttling Catherine Mukisa in their New Cross flat.

Richardson, originally from Oldham, said after Miss Mukisa, 53, had been strangled his two co-defendants tied up her lifeless body in front of him and bundled her into the back of Young’s car.

Miss Mukisa’s corpse was then thrown off Lambeth Bridge and Young’s Mazda was later dumped a service station by junction 8 off the M20 near Maidstone.

Giving evidence Richardson claimed Phillipson had planned to marry Miss Mukisa – but the two argued when he confessed to an affair with Young.

Before the murder Richardson said he had heard overheard the row.

‘Phillipson had told Miss Mukisa he didn’t want to marry her because he had been sh****g Young,’ Richardson told the court.

Richardson, who arrived in New Cross from Oldham last year, said earlier he had cooked Miss Mukisa bacon and chips.

He then popped out to buy cigarettes after the meal.

But when he returned to the flat in (14) Austin House, Achilles Road, he said he witnessed the horrific scenes unfolding in the bedroom after the row.

He said: ‘When I came back both locks were on which was unusual.

‘I put the bread, milk and cigarettes in the kitchen and went into the bedroom.

‘As I walked in Phillipson was strangling Miss Mukisa on the bed.

‘He had his right hand on her throat and Young had her left hand on her throat kneeling on the bed.

‘Miss Mukisa was lying on her back and kicking her legs.

‘

And when Richardson questioned Phillipson, he turned on him with a knife and threatened to kill him, he told the court.

Richardson went on: ‘He grabbed a knife, held it to my throat and said: ‘I’ll f****** kill you if you do anything or say anything.

‘

He claimed Phillipson killed her because he had been raped by a black man in Margate.

‘I was terrified, I didn’t know what to do,’ continued Richardson.

‘Young turned her body over so she was facing down on the bed and tied her legs up with string.

‘I slid down the wall and sat on the floor.

‘Phillipson then grabbed hold of her feet and bent her legs behind her back while Young tied her hands.

‘

Richardson said Philipson, originally from Canterbury, then checked the dying woman’s pulse before stuffing a pair of tights in her mouth.

He claimed Young then triumphantly declared: ‘She’s dead.

I killed the black bitch.

‘

Richardson said the lovers then discussed what to do and Phillipson allegedly told Young: ‘Leave it with me, I’ll sort something out.

‘

It is claimed that the three defendants then dumped the dead body in the icy water.

Miss Mukisa came to London from Africa last year and worked at Pear Tree Care Centre, a residential old people’s home in Sydenham Road.

She also worked at the Way To Heaven church in Deptford Bridge Road where she helped homeless people and met the two accused killers.

When Phillipson and Young were arrested, they told the police different stories.

Phillipson said Richardson had strangled the petite woman over an unpaid phone bill and a pnds stlg 50 loan.

Young claimed the two men had tidied up the flat after the killing before making her drive them to Lambeth Bridge at knifepoint.

A murder hunt had been launched when Miss Mukisa’s washed-up body was spotted opposite the Tate Gallery.

Ms Mukisa came to England from Africa a year ago.

The care worker helped homeless people at the Way To Heaven church in Deptford Bridge Road, where she met the accused killers.

Soon after meeting Ms Mukisa at the church, Richardson and Phillipson invited her to rent the bedroom in their flat.

Richardson and Phillipson, both deny murder on February 28 this year and perverting the course of justice.

Young of (104) Herbert Road, Plumstead, denies perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.

ends