Accused sex strangler Colin Findlay was linked to

Accused sex strangler Colin Findlay was linked to a naked
corpse found in a Paddington hotel room by both fingerprint and
genetic evidence, the Old Bailey heard today (thurs).

Glaswegian Findlay, 33, throttled the unidentified woman
six weeks after raping and attempting to murder a Kings College
University student at her hall of residence, it is alleged.

The jury was told that in both incidents Findlay left
fingerprints and was matched to the sexual attacks by DNA evidence.

Prosecutor Mr John Bevan said was only a one-in-ten-million
chance that Findlay had not had sex with both women.

But the identity of the dead woman, found by a chambermaid
after Findlay had checked out the hotel is likely to remain a mystery.

‘This case is unusual, if not unique, in that despite
intensive police inquiries they have not identified the lady,’ said
counsel.

‘All that is known is that her shoes were probably bought
from an Oxfam shop.

‘
Mr Bevan said that the woman, who was aged between 25 and
30, may have been a refugee from the former Yugolslavia, which could
explain why no one has come forward to identify her.

It is not known whether Findlay had sex with her before or
after he strangled her to death, the jury heard.

Mr Bevan told how Findlay was on a spending spree with a
stolen credit card when he met the woman on October 27 last year.

At the time he was driving a stolen Alfa Romeo Spyder (corr)
sports car.

A waitress who saw him with a woman at pizza resturant
thought the woman spoke with a Scottish accent.

Findlay booked into the Lancaster Hall Hotel in Craven
Terrace, Paddington, w.

London, later that day, claiming the woman
who would accompany him was his sister-in-law, the court heard.

He tried to pay for his room with the stolen credit card
the following morning and disappeared when staff refused to accept
it.

Later that day a cleaner made the grusesome discovery in
room 317.

Findlay had cut the underside of the bed so the body would
fit over the corpse, claimed counsel.

But in doing so he had left his fingerprint on the side of
the bed.

Police began looking for the Alfa Romeo after petrol station
video cameras captured Findlay driving it when he used the stolen
credit card.

And he was arrrested five days after the body was found when
he approached the vehicle in a Paddington car park.

Inside the car were both his fingerprint’s and the dead
woman’s.

There was also a receipt for goods Findlay brought from a
supermarket using the stolen card, said counsel.

Findlay, who claimed his address was Garvell Road, Glasgow,
denies rape and attempted murder on September 18 and murder on October
28 last year.

The trial continues.

ENDS
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