Murdered sex worker's body found under man's bed

AAP March 09, 2010 2:15PM

JUST hours after stabbing a prostitute to death in his lounge room, a man painted over her blood stains with white paint, a Sydney jury has been told.


Michael Robert Potts has pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to the murder of Kings Cross sex worker Emma King in 2008.

In his opening address, crown prosecutor Terry Thorpe said police found Ms King's naked body hidden under Mr Potts' bed.

Mr Potts, 42, shook uncontrollably and his bottom lip quivered as the jury was told Ms King had been stabbed twice, with one wound extending from her lower chest to her liver and another between her shoulder blades.

Mr Thorpe said the jury would hear that Ms King was then stripped naked, dragged into Mr Potts' bedroom, hidden under his bed and concealed by various items.

"You will hear evidence the accused took some white paint and attempted to paint over some of the blood stains which were in the unit," he said.

The court was told Mr Potts took a train into the city just after midnight on Sunday September 14, 2008, to acquire the services of Ms King.

She then went with Mr Potts to his Ashfield unit which she believed was at number 24 Margaret St.

However, shortly after 4.30am a male friend received a text message asking him to come and pick her up.

"He will tell you he went to Margaret Street, Ashfield, but was unable to find any address being number 24," Mr Thorpe said.

"There will be no dispute that the street only goes up to number 12."

Friends of Ms King then began frantically door knocking along the street to no avail.

However while waiting outside the apartment block at number 12 a friend had seen a face "peeping out of the window", he said.

"The crown contends that was the accused and the accused's premises."

The trial before Justice David Kirby is continuing.

From: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/murdered-sex-workers-body-found-under-mans-bed-court/story-e6frf7kf-1225838728219