Woman killed 'when she disturbed computer thief'

A woman who went into her office on a Saturday morning to catch up on work was murdered by a former colleague who she spotted stealing computers, the Old Bailey heard today.

Accountant Cathy Marlow, 28, was savagely attacked at the offices of Research Now in Kennington.

She suffered severe injuries to her head, arms and legs before being throttled with her own scarf. The walls, floors and corridor were covered in her blood. Her body was dumped in a shower cubicle.

Matthew Fagan, 32, occupied a desk near New Zealander Miss Marlow as a web production manager-until he was dismissed in April 2006. Fagan, from Idaho, who was living in Gaywood Street, Southwark, with his wife, denies murdering her in January last year. But he admits going to his old office to commit burglary and stealing six laptops which he was seen walking away with in his rucksack.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam, QC, said: "It was her diligence in going to work that Saturday which cost Cathy Marlow her life."

The trial continues.