Lay-by body murder case: Accused tells jury he killed friend because she wanted to die
A man accused of murdering a woman whose body was found in lay-by told a jury how he held a pillow over her head after she told him she had taken an overdose and wanted to die.
The badly burned body of Wolverhampton mother-of-one Jomaa Jerrare was found in a lay-by by officers investigating reports of a suspicious fire in Bridgnorth Road, near Perton, on August 9, 2021.
Clive O’Connor is accused of murdering the 52-year-old before dumping her body and setting it alight. Miss Jerrare had not been seen for several weeks before the discovery.
Giving evidence in the witness box at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, O'Connor said he had been helping Miss Jerrare and that they both struggled with their mental health.
He said Miss Jerrare would stay over at his home but the pair did not have a sexual relationship, despite him admitting he was attracted to her.
O'Connor told the jury she talked about suicide and all he wanted to do was 'help her as a friend'.
He said Miss Jerrare had asked him to kill her as she was too scared to do it herself.
