Murder accused tried to hide CCTV hard drive under mattress, court told

Mitesh Patel had been speaking to friends about security concerns in the neighbourhood just a week before his wife, Jessica, was found dead at their home in Middlesbrough in May.

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A jury at Teesside Crown Court also heard on Wednesday that a CCTV hard drive at the couple's home was well hidden and could not be seen by an intruder.

The prosecution allege Mr Patel attempted to hide a hard drive from the couple's CCTV system in a suitcase under a mattress, after he had strangled and suffocated his wife.

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Mr Patel denies murder and says he knew nothing about his wife's death.

Police pictured at the house where Jessica Patel was found dead. Picture: Joanna Morris

Alexandra Hartill, who had got to know Mr and Mrs Patel through contact at the pharmacy, said they had been discussing enhanced security at their homes after an incident involving an elderly woman being followed up her garden path and pushed into the front door.

During the conversation, Mr Patel said: "Jess is stupid, she'll answer the door to anyone. One day she'll end up being murdered."

Ms Hartill's mother, Bernadette Barker, was also present during the conversation and seconded what Mr Patel had said.

Toby Hedworth, cross examining, said: "You saw that as a flippant comment and never read anything into it at all.

"It was effectively two concerned neighbours discussing the need for greater security and the consequences of not having it."

The court also heard Mr Patel had asked an electrician who had carried out work on the pharmacy, which he ran with Mrs Patel, to install CCTV at their home.

Daniel Bell, who installed the CCTV, told the court Mr Patel wanted the security cameras because there had been some "shoplifters at the pharmacy" and he had "seen them outside his home", leaving him feeling "concerned and targeted".

Mr Bell said he installed cameras at the front and rear of the couple's home, as well as a hard drive in a cupboard.

He said he told Mr Patel it would be best to hide the device because "if there was an intruder they wouldn't be able to take it with them", and Mr Patel agreed.

He said the device was "pretty well hidden" and "no one would know it was there", but it would take a matter of "seconds" to remove.

Mr Hedworth said the way the CCTV footage was installed meant there were "blind spots", including the front door.

He asked if it was possible that anyone going to the door wouldn't be picked up by the CCTV, and Mr Bell replied "yes".

The trial continues.