Jury in Colin Ash-Smith murder trial will visit Greenhithe alleyway where Claire Tiltman was repeatedly stabbed

Published: 07:00, 10 November 2014 | Updated: 07:20, 10 November 2014

The trial of the man accused of the murder of schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in Greenhithe 21 years ago moved from the courtroom to the alleyway where she was stabbed to death today.

The seven men and five women of the jury trying Colin Ash-Smith, accompanied by trial judge Mr Justice Sweeney, barristers and police, traced the 16-year-old's last steps.

The group arrived at the scene in a white coach at about 11.30am and there was a heavy police presence in the area.

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The Greenhithe alleyway where Claire Tiltman was repeatedly stabbed

They visited the alleyway before walking up London Road and into Knockhall Chase, close to where it is believed Claire bought cigarettes before she was brutally attacked.

Last week they heard how former milkman Ash-Smith, from Swanscombe, allegedly murdered Claire in a “frenzied and remorseless” attack on the evening of January 18, 1993.

The Dartford Grammar School pupil was on her way to her friend’s house when Ash-Smith is accused of stabbing her no less than nine times in the dark alleyway off London Road.

Claire had celebrated her 16 birthday just four days earlier and was the only child of Cliff and Lin Tiltman. Both her parents have since died.

Claire Tiltman was found dead in an alleyway in 1993

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC told the court in his opening speech that the “knife-obsessed loner” attacked Claire “rapidly and stealthily” and gave her no time to defend herself or escape.

“Claire was a target for a completely senseless slaughter of an innocent young teenage girl, you might think for no better reason than the warped pleasure he derived from attacking a lone woman and the ultimate power and control it gave him.”

Ash-Smith, now 46, denies murder. The court heard that in 1988 and 1995 he carried out attacks on two other women.

One was stabbed five times after Ash-Smith kidnapped her at gunpoint and repeatedly tried to rape her in a Swanscombe quarry. He also tried to strangle her with his old school tie.

The second woman was stabbed 14 times after Ash-Smith dragged her from the street less than 400m from where Claire was murdered.

Colin Ash-Smith at the time of his arrest for the knife attack on a woman in Greenhithe in 1995

He later admitted attempted murder, attempted rape, kidnap and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The jury, plus four reserve jurors, will travel down from Inner London Crown Court in south east London by coach and are expected to begin to walk Claire’s final journey from 11am.

Addressing them on Friday, Mr Justice Sweeney said they would be shown “quite a number of locations” in the area, and stressed the importance of behaving as if they were still in the courtroom.

“The one thing you have got to understand from the word go is that at all times we will still be the court and we all have to conduct ourselves accordingly.

“There will be others there to make sure we are not approached or interfered with in any way. You won’t be photographed or filmed in any way as we go around.”

The case was heard at Inner London Crown Court in Southwark

He added that arrangements would be made so that if any jurors had questions that needed to be answered at the scene, those questions and the responses would be recorded as they would be in the courtroom.

After the visit, they will journey back to London where the prosecution will finish their opening speech. The first witnesses are expected to give evidence tomorrow.