Accused murderer of India Chipchase says he was 'very successful' with women
The man accused of raping and murdering a prominent Adelaide doctor's daughter has told a court he was "very successful" with women and had once dated a fashion model.
Edward Tenniswood, 52, has denied he murdered and raped 20-year-old barmaid India Chipchase.
He told the court he accidentally strangled Miss Chipchase during what he called "mildly kinky sex".
After being separated from a group of friends on a night out, the court heard Miss Chipchase was "steered" into a cab by Mr Tenniswood with the promise of "getting her home safely."
She was found dead and wrapped in a sheet inside Mr Tenniswood's Northampton apartment on the morning of January 30.
According to the Mirror, the court heard magazine clippings were also found in the Tenniswood's apartment of British girl band 'Little Mix'.
"That's Little Mix," Tenniswood answered when questioned over the clippings of the four-member group.
"I'm probably going to get sued by Little Mix now.
"If you want to say they are attractive then yes, yes they are attractive," he admitted, when pressed.
Asked about other images of young women found in his home, Tenniswood responded "I'm lucky enough to have had some very attractive girlfriends.
"I have had some extremely attractive ex girlfriends. Is that a crime?"
A picture was also found in Tenniswood's kitchen of a fashion model, whom Tenniswood claimed to have dated.
When shown the picture, Tenniswood told the court the image was "not actually her, but a model who is very similar to her."
Tenniswood claimed he dated the model in the late 1980s into the early 1990s.
"I have got documentary evidence to prove that," he stated.
Prosecutor Chris Donnellan QC asked Tenniswood what his intentions were when he "steered" Miss Chipchase into a taxi on the evening of January 29.
"You have got a 20-year-old drunk girl in a taxi," Donnellan proposed.
"What are you going to do when you get back to your flat?"
Tenniswod responded that he "hadn't actually thought forensically what [he was] going to do."
He told the court he wanted to go home and drink, and that Miss Chipchase was a "drinking companion".
According to the Daily Mail, Mr Tenniswood told the court he had sex twice with Miss Chipchase and "did not notice" she wasn't breathing until hours later.
Tenniswood told Birmingham Crown Court he accidentally strangled her to death when they were engaged in 'mildly kinky' sex.
"On the second occasion [of having sex], because she removed her hands [from her neck], obviously in my over-eagerness to please her I sustained the pressure for just too long.
"I was unguided and inexpert at what I considered a mildly kinky, sexual practice.
"Through sheer inexperience and incompetence I kept the pressure on too long or too firmly, or both, and in retrospect that caused her death."
Tenniswood went on to describe how he dressed Miss Chipchase's body afterwards.
"She was floppy," he said.
"As I expected her to be if she was in this semi-comatose state."
"I thought if she was dead she would be stiff, but she was extremely flexible."
Tenniswood said the paleness of Miss Chipchase's skin made him think something "wasn't quite right".
"I thought she must be pretty out of it."
Tenniswood said he re-clothed Miss Chipchase to be "respectful".
“My optimism is unbelievable. I’m just one of the world’s greatest optimists," said Tenniswood. “That allowed me to continually believe India wasn’t dead."
On day one of giving evidence, Tenniswood claimed he "blacked out" with fatigue after sex with Miss Chipchase and "cuddled up" to her still body, believing she was just asleep.
He claimed it was not until he woke up a few hours later that he noticed she wasn't breathing and feared she was dead, before then heading out to get a kebab.
Tenniswood told the court: "I was so fatigued, I effectively blacked out. I rolled over and embraced her. I cuddled up to her and just went to sleep.
"When we woke up - sorry, when I woke up - it was early evening. I just assumed she was in a deep sleep. I just assumed she was out of it.
"I lit a cigarette, as I naturally do. Again, to my shame, the first thing I did was to pour myself a drink of wine."
“Panic set in”, claimed Tenniswood.
He then said he went out to get some food.
"I went to get a kebab, get something to eat.
Tenniswood was found with a scratch mark to his neck, and marks on his arms and legs when he was arrested.
The court heard Miss Chipchase suffered blunt force trauma to her head and face and had a graze on her ear.
Miss Chipchase was living in the UK with her mother Suzanne, studying a diploma in health and social care.
She had been dating rugby league player Evaan Reihana, who has since dedicated his playing career to his late girlfriend.
Her father, gynaecologist and obstetrician Jeremy Chipchase, lives in Adelaide.
The trial continues.
News break – July 29
