A woman trained in human dissection is said to have killed and decapitated her friend before dumping the body in woods more than 200 miles away, a court has said.
Osteopath Jemma Mitchell, 38, is accused of murdering 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong, who was known as Deborah, in a falling out over money in June last year.
Ms Chong was reported missing from her Wembley home on June 11 and her headless body was found by holidaymakers near the Devon town of Salcombe of June 27.
On July 1, the head was discovered around 10 metres away further down the hill in undergrowth.
A post-mortem examination was unable to determine the cause of death due to the degree of decomposition, the court heard.
Opening the trail at the Old Bailey, Deanna Heer KC said the torso appeared to have been cut and there were signs of assault with a skull fracture.
Ms Heer said Mitchell befriended the victim through church and had visited her on the day she went missing.
She told jurors: “Although they were friendly, the evidence suggests that they had recently fallen out over money.”
Shortly after 1pm that day, Mitchell was allegedly captured on CCTV walking from Ms Chong’s house with two suitcases.
Ms Heer said: “The larger of the two was obviously very heavy and difficult to manoeuvre.
Jurors were told that Mitchell was born in Australia and went on to study osteopathy. Her professional website stated that she was “attuned to subjects in neuroanatomy, genetics and dissection of human cadavers”.
Having practised for seven years in Australia, she returned to Britain in 2015 and has not worked since, the court was told.
At the time of the killing, Mitchell was living with her mother at a family home in Brondesbury Park, which was in a state of disrepair.
The property had no roof and was covered in scaffolding due to an ill-fated renovation project, jurors were told.
Ms Chong was described as vulnerable and prone to erratic behaviour.
In one email, Ms Chong allegedly told the defendant: “I am honoured to have you as my sister, accept me as your friend and advise me…”
It is claimed the victim agreed to hand over £200,000 to help with Mitchell’s house repairs but later had a change of heart.
The case continues.
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