Edward Tenniswood, 52, claims he only put his hands around young woman’s neck at her direction before she during “vigorous love-making” before she expired

Tenniswood, allegedly strangled 20-year-old barmaid, India Chipchase, during a rape incident

Killer denies homicide charge, says he “blacked out” after having sex with the victim and didn’t realise she had died

Claims sex was consensual, that they were having “loving sex” and afterwards he began ‘cuddling her dead body’

He then changed blood stained beddings, dressed her up, turned on lights and radio to be ‘respectful’, because “I was absolutely convinced she would gain consciousness while I was out” and left the house

Ms Chipchase was last seen outside a club in Northampton, England, January 30,  post-mortem confirmed she died of strangulation

Edward Tenniswood claimed he only put his hands around his victims neck at her direction during “vigorous love-making”. He is on trial for strangling the young woman while commiting rape.

Edward Tenniswood claimed he only put his hands around his victims neck at her direction before she gave an “exhaling gasp” during “vigorous love-making”.  Tenniswood who is on trial for the alleged rape and murder of the 20-year-old’s barmaid was trying to portray to the court the moment he placed his hands on her neck while they were having “loving sex”.
Opening the trial, the prosecutor, Christopher Donnellan said: “It is very likely his motive was sexual and when she resisted him he was determined to have sex and he grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.
“He held her until she was unable to resist any more.”
When police officers broke down Tenniswood’s door on the afternoon of Sunday January 31, they found Ms Chipchase dead.
Bearded, balding Tenniswood denies the charges, stating that the sex was consensual. Earlier, he claimed Ms Chipchase and he had hugged while looking at their reflections in his bedroom mirror “like we were posing for a selfie”, and that the young woman had kissed him first.
Tenniswood said: “She just made this incredibly moving comment which at the time was very sweet.
“It was a very ‘India’ thing to do.”

 
20-year-old-India Chipchase had been at a nightclub in Northampton when she disappeared

The alleged rapist told  a British court that after the “vigorous love-making” he cuddled up to his victim’s dead body and initially thought nothing of her unresponsiveness when he woke many hours later.
The prosecution states that 52-year-old former book keeper “raped and throttled” the young woman after chancing upon her outside a nightclub in the early hours of January 30, and taking her in a taxi back to his house.
Demonstrating to jurors by placing his hands around his own neck, the suspect said: “She puts her hands on top of my hands and moves my hands down to her neck.”

Tenniswood demonstrated to the jury how India Chipchase put his hands around her neck during his testimony


India chipchase was violated and brutally murdered by 52-year-old Edward Tenniswood

In his words: “It’s a very organic thing.”
Tenniswood said she then moved his hands away, but claimed on a second occasion Ms Chipchase had allowed him to continue and he “applied pressure” for up to ten seconds.
“Her body spasmed and she let out this extraordinary exhale, just like before,” he said.
Tenniswood said afterwards he was “so fatigued” he “effectively blacked out”.
“I rolled over and embraced her. I cuddled up to her and just went to sleep,” he said.
He said it was not until well into the next day,  Saturday evening when he got up and after drinking a glass of cheap red wine and lighting a cigarette that he realized there was “something wrong”.

Alleged rapist, Edward Tenniswood claims he “blacked out” after having sex with the Chipchase (photo),  and didn’t realise she had died

He told the jury: “I said ‘India, darling?’
“I just went over and looked at her. It just didn’t seem right.
“I just sort of nudged her shoulder.”
He then added that despite his concerns, he dressed up before searching through Ms Chipchase’s purse,  looking for some sign of a pre-existing medical condition which might have put her in a “diabetic coma”.
He claimed he also feared she may have had a “stroke or brain injury” from a drunken fall.
When it became obvious something was seriuosly amiss with Ms Chipchase, Tenniswood told the court he downed another drink of wine and “panic set in”, explaing that he said he ruled out bothering to take her pulse, explaining: “I decided not to do that on the grounds I’d never taken one before.

Crime Scene: Police cordon Stanley Road, St James, Northampton, where the victim was found in January

“I thought, ‘what is that going to do?’ Is that going to upset me even more or answer any questions?
“I ruled out feeling the pulse, and returned to have another swig of wine.”
That is when,  Tenniswood said,  he stowed Ms Chipchase’s clutch handbag and boots “neatly” together in another room, and decided to leave the house with the ‘unconcious’ young woman still inside.
He added: “I was completely convinced she was still alive, and in some form of coma.”
“I made some decisions; to get some air, get food, and calm down.”

India Chipchase. Miss Chipchase had been studying a diploma in health and social care, had been at a nightclub in Northampton when she disappeared

Continuing with his spooky testimony, Tenniswood stated that he was ‘convinced’ Ms Chipchase would regain consciousness while he was out.  Consequently, before leaving, he went back to the room  wher she lay and and put her clothes back on, to be “respectful”. Changed the beddings, which had a blood-stain from a wound on Ms Chipchase’s head, turned a light on and turned up the volume on the bedroom radio.
“I was absolutely convinced she would gain consciousness while I was out.”