ONE of the men accused of murdering 23-year-old Natalie Jarvis in Swanley sent a text to his friend saying: "It's done, I am serious, I am covered in blood", a court heard.

Miss Jarvis was found collapsed on the side of Swanley Village Road after suffering more than 20 stab wounds to her neck on October 3 last year.

Thomas Fuller, of Oakley Drive, Eltham, and Adam Whelehan, of Roseberry Drive, Sidcup, both 23, went on trial yesterday charged with her murder.

A jury of eight men and four women at Maidstone Crown Court heard how Whelehan sent a text to his friends Steven Hughes and  Matt Woods at around 11pm.

Ian Acheson, prosecuting, told the court it read: “It’s done, not lying, I’m covered in blood man, So sorry I let you boys down.”
 

On the day of Miss Jarvis’s death Whelehan and Fuller were at the driving range at Ruxley Park Golf Club in Sidcup before heading to the Tailor’s Chalk pub in Foots Cray High Street at about 8.30pm.

They then drove in Whelehan's red Renault Clio hatchback to the Portrait pub in Sidcup before arranging to pick up Miss Jarvis for “a chat” from her house about 10.20pm.

The court heard yesterday morning how Whelehan had been seeing Miss Jarvis since the summer.

Mr Acheson told the court Whelehan had a knife between his legs, while Fuller was hiding in the boot of the car because he had been told Miss Jarvis had been "slagging off" him and his dad.

The prosecutor told the court: "It was a sensitive topic, because his dad very recently died.

"Mr Whelehan suggested getting into the boot of the car to see what she was going to say about his father."

CCTV footage shown in court captured the car arrive at a car park close to the junction with Button Street and Swanley Village Road.

Whelehan and Miss Jarvis can be seen getting out of the car and walking off.

Fuller heard "scuffling" and after 20 seconds got out of the boot and looked up to the junction with Button Street and Swanley Village Road.

Mr Acheson told the jury: "He saw Adam and Natalie some distance away with their arms outstretched on each other's shoulders. He did not know what to do.

"For the first time he thought he (Whelehan) might carry out the threats he was making.

"They turned left and went out of sight. He got in the car and turned it round and kept it running.

"He claimed he was in shock."

The court also heard yesterday Whelehan had previously told friends he “had to get rid of her” and showed one the knife he was going to use to “kill her.”

Whelehan returned to the car with blood on his hands and jogging bottoms and Fuller drove to Eltham before Whelehan handed himself in at Bexleyheath police station around 3am.

A passer-by, Ben Samuel, who was being driven through Swanley found Miss Jarvis face down - half on the road, half on the pavement.

Mr Acheson told the court: "He pulled her onto her back, an ambulance was called, and Mr Samuel tried to resuscitate her. He thought she was dead."

Ambulance staff arrived at the Lamb's public house opposite where Miss Jarvis was found at 11.26pm and immediately noticed two substantial wounds to her neck.

There was no cardiac output and she was pronounced dead at 11.30pm – an hour after she was picked up from her home.

Whelehan and Fuller deny murder.

The trial continues this morning.

Reporter Sam Christie is in court check News Shopper's website for a further update at lunchtime.