THE trial of Stuart Hazell at the Old Bailey has entered its third day.
Live updates from the proceedings, written by our reporters Gareth Davies and Rachel Millard, can be seen below from 10.15am.
Yesterday the jury were read a statement made by Christine Bicknell, Tia's grandmother, about her granddaughter's disappearance.
"Stuart loved Tia and she idolised him," she said. "Stuart has never told me about killing Tia. I loved Stuart with all my heart. He was my whole world."
The court also heard that Hazell sent a series of panicked text messages to his boss Adrian Van Aalst, one of which complained that the media was making him out to be Jack the Ripper.
Statements from police officers involved in the search for Tia were also read out in court.
Officers, who took three searches to find her body, say the initial sweep of the house - and the loft space - focused on Tia' being a missing person.
During a later search one of the dogs seemed to indicate there was something worth looking for in the loft, but an officer said it wasn't "practical" to deploy the animal in such a small space.
Once a thorough search of the loft was undertaken, police foundTia's body and a bag of clothes.
The jury were also shown CCTV footage which demonstrated Tia's journey from East Croydon station to The Lindens, New Addington.
Live updates from the proceedings, written by our reporters Gareth Davies and Rachel Millard, can be seen below from 10.15am.
Yesterday the jury were read a statement made by Christine Bicknell, Tia's grandmother, about her granddaughter's disappearance.
"Stuart loved Tia and she idolised him," she said. "Stuart has never told me about killing Tia. I loved Stuart with all my heart. He was my whole world."
The court also heard that Hazell sent a series of panicked text messages to his boss Adrian Van Aalst, one of which complained that the media was making him out to be Jack the Ripper.
Statements from police officers involved in the search for Tia were also read out in court.
Officers, who took three searches to find her body, say the initial sweep of the house - and the loft space - focused on Tia' being a missing person.
During a later search one of the dogs seemed to indicate there was something worth looking for in the loft, but an officer said it wasn't "practical" to deploy the animal in such a small space.
Once a thorough search of the loft was undertaken, police foundTia's body and a bag of clothes.
The jury were also shown CCTV footage which demonstrated Tia's journey from East Croydon station to The Lindens, New Addington.
