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Shannon mother 'joked about sex with policeman' during search
DURING the 24-day search for schoolgirl Shannon Matthews her mother Karen displayed a "Jekyll and Hyde" character which changed when police or media representatives were present, a friend told the jury yesterday.
Natalie Brown said behind closed doors Karen Matthews would act "as if it was a normal day" joking and laughing but "came over as all upset and withdrawn" if police or journalists were present.
She told Leeds Crown Court one day during the massive search for the nine-year-old schoolgirl Matthews was joining in gossip with other women when one made a comment about an officer outside her house having a "cute bum."
"Karen said she wouldn't mind taking him upstairs. She was having a giggle that it was funny," she said.
She agreed with Matthews' counsel Frances Oldham QC she saw the comment as "a girly moment."
Mrs Brown was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Matthews, 33, and Michael Donovan, 40, who both deny the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon and doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.
The prosecution claim the child was drugged and probably restrained at times in Donovan's flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, after her mother hatched a plan to make 50,000 from her fake disappearance.
Mrs Brown, a neighbour in Dewsbury Moor, said Matthews and her partner Craig Meehan went to live with her for five days during the search.
She told Julian Goose, QC, prosecuting, while there: "She acted as if it was a normal day. She helped me clean the house and make cuppas, we would laugh and joke about things."
But when the news came on the television she did not want to talk but was "glued to the TV."
She said if the police or press were present Matthews was also quiet but when they left "she was back to her old self" having a laugh and a joke. "It was like Jekyll and Hyde."
She agreed under cross-examination by Alan Conrad, QC, defending Donovan, that in front of the police or Press Matthews portrayed a person who was sad but added: "I never saw any real tears."
Earlier the jury heard how detectives who told Matthews her daughter had been found were surprised she did not ask how or where.
Det Con Alexander Grummitt said he thought it was unusual on the journey taking Matthews to identify the girl found, that she talked about the ring tone on his phone rather than asking about Shannon's welfare.
More coverage from day 2:
Neighbour tells of mother's Shannon vigil>>
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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