The trial of Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, accused of decapitating Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, and transporting their remains in suitcases to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, has been halted. The jury at the Old Bailey was discharged after discovery of issues with the timeline of laptop search evidence critical to the case.
The murders occurred on July 8 last year in the shared flat of the victims in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. The prosecution had only recently presented its case when Mr Justice Bennathan ruled that the trial “simply cannot continue” due to the unresolved discrepancies in the evidence.
The judge emphasized the necessity of ensuring a fair trial and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the jurors. Mosquera has admitted manslaughter of Mr. Alfonso by loss of self-control but denies the murder charges.
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A retrial has been provisionally scheduled for June, when a new jury will be empaneled to hear the case.