A jury has failed to reach a verdict during the trial of a man convicted of triple murder who was accused of raping one of his victims.
Anthony Russell, 39, admitted to killing Nicole McGregor, 31, and a mother and her son in October 2020 within a six day period.
But Russell denies raping Ms McGregor, who was five months pregnant when she was murdered on 26 October 2020.
She was found in a woodland in Warwickshire after being strangled, the jury heard.
He was remanded in custody and will face a four day retrial on 7 March at Warwick Crown Court.
The court took the decision to re-try Russell after the jury was discharged from reaching a verdict following six hours of deliberations.
Russell’s first victim was David Williams, 32, who was found dead under a bed in his flat in Coventry, the jury was told.
He later murdered Williams’ mother, 58-year-old Julie, who was found dead in her own home in the city after suffering 113 injuries.
In the third instalment to his killing spree, heroin addict Russell murdered Ms McGregor.
He described her to jurors as having a “slight frame” and being “lightly-built”. He also said Ms McGregor and the father of her unborn child would beg in Leamington Spa.
More to follow…
