Babes in the Wood Brighton: Jenny Johnson on trial for perjury

Jenny Johnson is charged with perverting the course of justice over allegedly helping Russell Bishop in the 1980s.

Bishop was acquitted of the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway at a trial at Lewes Crown Court in 1987.

Three years later he went on to abduct a seven-year-old girl from Whitehawk and was sentenced for her attempted murder in 1990.

Then in 2018 he was convicted of the murder of the nine-year-old Moulsecoomb when new DNA evidence linked him to crime.

The murders became known as the Babes in the Wood case after their bodies were discovered in woodland at Wild Park, Brighton.

Now Bishop’s former partner Johnson is accused of lying in a witness statement in the original investigation in 1986.

At Lewes Crown Court Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, said: “Jennifer Johnson is charged with perverting the course of justice and perjury.

Lewes Crown Court.

“These offences date back to events in 1986 and 87.

“It is alleged against her she told lies in 1987 in a witness statement.

“It is further alleged that she then lied on oath when she gave evidence at the criminal trial.

“The witness statement and the evidence related to the trial of a man called Russell Bishop, then her partner and the father of her child.

“He was on trial from the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway who had been murdered and sexually assaulted.

“Their bodies were found in Wild Park in woodland in Brighton.

“A key garment in the investigation was a sweatshirt which was recovered after the attack and which bore scientific evidence capable of linking it to the scene of the murders.

RUSSELL BISHOPS (BABES IN THE WOOD MURDERS) EX GIRLFRIEND JENNY JOHNSON AT BRIGHTON MAGS COURT TODAY UP FOR PERVERTYING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE - IN BALCK WIG . MASK AND GLOVES AND SHADES.

“Initially, Jennifer Johnson told police it belonged to Russell Bishop.

“However, in a later witness statement and in the trial, the defendant denied it belonged to Russell Bishop.

“She now accepts she lied in that statement and in the trial.

“Russell Bishop was acquitted of the offences of murder.

“Three years later in 1990, Russell Bishop kidnapped, sexually assaulted and tried to kill another young girl.

“He was convicted of attempted murder and sexual assault and sentenced to a life sentence.

“After a change in the law, the investigation into Russell Bishop was reopened.

Jenny Johnson is accused of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice in the Babes in the Wood murder case

“Further scientific evidence was obtained and Russell Bishop was re-tried and convicted in December 2018.

“Now, this defendant is charged with offences relation to her conduct in making the statement and giving the evidence she did in the first trial in 1987.”

The Crown will formally open their case at Lewes Crown Court in the morning.