Man accused of murdering Lewes mother demonstrates how she was bludgeoned to death by another man

The man accused of murdering a Lewes mum-of-two demonstrated how she was bludgeoned as she sat in her mobility scooter.
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Dramatic video of Richard Canlin acting out how he said another man beat Nicola Stevenson over the head was shown to the jury.

Canlin, 42, is accused of murdering Nicola Stevenson, 39, originally from Edinburgh, at her flat between October 10, and November 13, last year and dumping her body in a wheelie bin in undergrowth on the edge of the recreation ground off Landport Road, Lewes.

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In video taped police interviews, Canlin demonstrated how a man called John Parish rained blows down on her head as she sat in her mobility scooter.

Richard Canlin outside courtRichard Canlin outside court
Richard Canlin outside court

Earlier, the jury heard she left her flat in Stansfield Road, Lewes, after an argument with Canlin on October 10, 2019.

He said she left to ‘cool down’.

After she left, Canlin said she was stopped by John Parish.

“She was alive when she left the flat,” Canlin told police.

Nicola Stevenson. Picture: Sussex PoliceNicola Stevenson. Picture: Sussex Police
Nicola Stevenson. Picture: Sussex Police

He said he recognised John Parish as the man who stopped her.

“I saw his face, so I knew it was him.=- I was scared because of what he said and what he was doing.

“He looked like he was arguing.”

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Canlin raised his hand over his head to demonstrate what he saw.

Nicola's body was found among bedding in a wheelie bin in Lewes. Picture: Sussex PoliceNicola's body was found among bedding in a wheelie bin in Lewes. Picture: Sussex Police
Nicola's body was found among bedding in a wheelie bin in Lewes. Picture: Sussex Police

“All of a sudden Parish went like that.

“Nicola went ‘Ahh’ and he cracked her again and he did it again a few times.

“She moved forward a bit and that’s when he hit her.

“I didn’t know what he had in his hand at the time.

A claw hammer recovered by police. Picture: Sussex PoliceA claw hammer recovered by police. Picture: Sussex Police
A claw hammer recovered by police. Picture: Sussex Police

“He did it again and again and again.”

Canlin, who had a solicitor and an appropriate adult in the police interview room with him, said after John Parish had beaten Nicola Stevenson, he went behind the flat to retrieve a wheelie bin.

“I just froze,” he said.

“She’s in a wheelchair, he’s got a bin.

“I still have nightmares.

“He was pulling the bin behind him.

Police at the scene of the crime investigation at Landport Recreation Ground in Lewes. Picture: Peter CrippsPolice at the scene of the crime investigation at Landport Recreation Ground in Lewes. Picture: Peter Cripps
Police at the scene of the crime investigation at Landport Recreation Ground in Lewes. Picture: Peter Cripps

“I went in the flat, locked the door.”

Canlin told police Nicola Stevenson was his sister and they were close but lost touch after their parents died.

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Sussex Police has not been able to establish any family connection between Canlin and Nicola Stevenson.

Her parents have been in court.

Asked if he said anything to John Parish, Canlin said: “I just froze. I couldn’t do anything.”

Canlin said John Parish forced him to take money out of Nicola Stevenson’s back accounts.

“He said if I told anybody what I saw, I would get the same treatment.

“He said he wanted more money out.

“About four lots.

“It was Nicola’s.

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“He said If you don’t get the money out, you won’t see the light of day again.”

Police asked Canlin if he could explain why his DNA and Nicola’s blood were on a hammer found in another wheelie bin outside the flat when they were searched after her body was found five weeks after she was last seen.

He said: “It doesn’t mean I actually handled it.

“If it was in the bin, I was putting rubbish in the bin.

“I never touched that hammer before it went in the bin.”

Canlin denies murder.

The trial at Hove Crown Court continues.