Court hears of crucifix pose in prostitutes' murder trial

(M&C) - A man on trial for the deaths of five local prostitutes was on a "campaign of murder" and left two of the bodies in a "crucifix" pose an Ipswich court has heard. A hand out photo made available 15 January 2008 by Suffolk Police in east central England, of Steve Wright who is currently standing trial at Ipswich Crown Court for the murder of five prostitutes in 2006. Wright, aged 49, denies murdering the five women and the trial is expected to last at least six weeks. The murders took place during a 10 day period in December 2006. EPA/HO EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A hand out photo made available 15 January 2008 by Suffolk Police in east central England, of Steve Wright who is currently standing trial at Ipswich Crown Court for the murder of five prostitutes in 2006. Wright, aged 49, denies murdering the five women and the trial is expected to last at least six weeks. The murders took place during a 10 day period in December 2006. EPA/HO EDITORIAL USE ONLY Steve Wright,49, of Ipswich, Suffolk has pleaded not guilty to the murder of five Ipswich sex workers, Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, who he allegedly picked up in Ipswich's red light district in 2006.Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told the court, "For a period of some six-and-a-half weeks he preyed upon women working as prostitutes in and around Ipswich, killing five before his campaign was brought to an end by his arrest."He added: "The state of their bodies and the circumstances in which they were systematically stripped and dumped is consistent with a campaign of murder."All five were discovered in a 10-day period in December 2006 and were killed by asphyxiation or strangulation. Two of the bodies were found with their arms outstretched as though crucified, the court was told.The trial continues.