Accused ‘body in a bin’ killer of Yajaira Mendez denies murder
A cleaner accused of killing his ex-girlfriend at the offices where they worked and wheeling her corpse out in a bin has denied murder.
Married Venezuelan Juan Toledo, 51, drove the body of Colombian Yajaira Mendez, 46, to the Bolderwood area of Hampshire and dumped it there, it is claimed.
Prosecutor Caroline Carberry, KC, told the Old Bailey: ‘They were both cleaning staff at an office building on Grays Inn Road.
‘They had been in recent relationship and on the day of her death they were both at work.’
Ms Mendez turned up for work at 5pm on May 29 and Toledo wheeled out the body just after 8.30pm, the court heard.
She was reported missing by Ms Mendez’s former flatmate at her home in Ilford, east London when she failed to move into a new home.
Toledo, of Kitts Terrace, Crystal Palace, south London, was arrested on June 4.
He appeared at the Old Bailey today (tues) wearing glasses and a black, red and beige t-shirt and blue jeans.
He was assisted by a Spanish interpreter.
Toledo denied murder and perverting the course of justice by concealing or disposing of Ms Mendez’s body on or before 7 June 2025.
His four-week trial his due to begin on 20 April next year.
A pre-trial review will take place on 30 March.
