THE alibi of the man accused of killing Heather Jordan in a park in Taunton is 'nonsense', a jury have been told.

Martin Corns' claim he was out siphoning petrol in the early hours of the morning when Heather was strangled have been dismissed as unbelievable by the prosecution counsel at Exeter Crown Court.

Corns, aged 52, is alleged to have killed 34-year-old Heather as she walked to work as an early morning cleaner at the Priorswood Coop between 5.00 and 5.30 am on Sunday February 18 this year.

He met her when they were both working as cleaners at Boots in Taunton and is alleged to have become obsessed with her before killing her in a jealous rage.

Corns, of Denmark Terrace, Taunton, denies murder. He told the jury he was not in the park when she was strangled and had no motive to kill her because he was in love with her and hoped they would have a relationship.

Miss Kate Brunner, QC, gave the jury a list of 14 reasons why they could be sure Corns was guilty when she made her closing speech today (Friday, September 7).

She said:"There are many strands of evidence which mean you can be sure he is guilty. If any strand stood on its own it might have an innocent explanation. When the strands are woven together, coincidence may be ruled out.

"I am going to list the specific strands which means you can conclude the man in the dock is the killer.

"First, he was in the area of the park at the time of the killing, but that on its own does not prove murder. Second, he was obsessive and possessive.

"Third, Heather was in the process of ending the relationship. Fourth, he usually met her on Saturday and Sunday mornings and walked her to work across that park.

"Fifth, his glove was found up at the top of the park, near things from her purse. Sixth, he discarded, I use the word hid, his top and his phone after the killing.

"Seventh, his DNA was on Heather, including the neck area and the top she was wearing when she was killed. Eighth, her DNA was on the top he had been wearing and on the arm of that top.

"Next, the first message which he sent her on that Sunday morning was unusually late in the day. Next, he did not chase her for a reply or text her.

"Next, he lied to the police, saying he was at home at the time of the killing. Next, he lied to the police saying he had been in the park on Saturday night.

"Next, he went no comment to lots of questions in interview, and lastly, his story about siphoning petrol was nonsense."

Earlier, during cross examination, Miss Brunner had accused Corns of trying to create a false alibi by claiming to have been at home or out stealing petrol.

He replied:"No, I knew I had not killed Heather. I lied to the police because I was out pinching petrol. It was not a lie to hide that I was killing Heather."

Corns admitted he had watched Heather's home five or six times and asked her to step onto the path so he could check she was there, but said she had suggested it as a way of allaying his suspicions that she was seeing somebody else.

Mr Richard Smith, QC, told the jury in his closing speech that the case was not as simple as 'lists and ticks' and there were anomalies in the evidence which cast doubt on the prosecution's interpretation of events.

He said the suggestion that Corns had thrown away his top to cover up the killing was undermined by the fact that the jacket, which he wore over it, was found at his home.

He said it was an agreed fact that the police had been unable to test the top for the presence of petrol because of the way it had been stored. He said if it had contained traces of fuel, it would have given powerful support to Corns' account of his movements.

Judge Mr Brian Forster is expected to start his summing up today and has told the jury he expects them to retire to consider their verdict on Monday.