Two teenagers blamed each other for the death of a young mother whose body was found floating in the River Colne in Colchester.

A murder trial jury heard how 24-year-old Helen Maughan died from head injuries and drowning after she was last seen near Quilters pub in Middleborough last May 20.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed her with two young men near the scene on a Friday evening.

Just over an hour later, the two men were seen again on CCTV, this time without the mother-of-two.

Her body was found in the river two days later by a man out for a walk, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

The prosecution has alleged two teenagers murdered Miss Maughan in May last year after they met her near the pub.

They deny the murder charge, and the jury of six men and six women have been told the youths are blaming each other for the alleged murder.

One told police his friend had done it and had threatened him. The other said he woke up on a bench after drinking to see his friend dragging Miss Maughan towards the river.

Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, told the court both youths bragged to their friends about the killing before they were arrested.

The trial heard Miss Maughan had a troubled past and would go binge drinking.

On the day of her death she had been ejected from three pubs - Quilters at Middleborough, the Victoria in North Station Road and the Marquis of Granby on North Hill - before she met the two teenagers.

Miss Wass said they had also been drinking that day after paying an older man to buy them a bottle of wine and lager.

By midnight on May 18 last year, all three were near Quilters, and Miss Wass alleged the two teenagers attacked Miss Maughan before she ended up in the river.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died from multiple head injuries and drowning.

The jury were visiting the scene of the alleged murder today.

  • The trial continues

    THE CHARGES

    Two teenagers deny murdering Helen Maughan between May 17 and May 20 last year.

The two, aged 14 and 17, cannot be named as the law does not allow defendants under 18 to be identified.

The body of mother-of-two Miss Maughan, 24, of Propelair Way, Colchester, was discovered half-naked in the River Colne on May 20 last year.