The uncle accused of abducting and murdering Danielle Junes turned up at his next-door neighbour's home with two phones - on the day of the schoolgirl's disappearance, a court heard.
Kay Hahn, of Fairway, Grays, told Chelmsford Crown Court Stuart Campbell was building decking at the rear of her home on the days leading up to and following June 18, last year.
She noticed his usual phone - in a black leather-type cover on his belt as usual.
However, when she placed a cup of coffee she had made for him on the window-sill outside her kitchen, she noticed a second phone in a "bright blue" case.
She said: "It was a neoprane material, like a divers' wetsuit material - sort of elasticated."
She also noticed it had a yellow smiley face with black eyes and mouth, and the words "My Dad" on it.
At 11.45am she saw Campbell halfway down the garden. He was dressed in his work clothes - jogging bottoms, a pale blue T-shirt with his company logo Right Price on it, a navy blue fleece and a dark green baseball cap with the letters "AON" written on the front.
Prosecutor Orlando Pownall, QC asked what did Campbell appear to be doing
"He appeared to be on the phone"
Which phone was he holding?
"Holding his normal black phone"
And the neoprane covered phone?
"I was at the other end of the kitchen washing up and I couldn't see, but it was there later in the day.
"It was unusual for him to go down the garden to use his phone. Normally he would answer it wherever it is. He wouldn't go away to use his phone. He's been up a ladder before and answered the phone.
Mrs Hahn admitted Campbell would normally start work on her decking at around 9.30am each day but on June 18 he arrived at 11.20am.
She told the court Campbell had explained his late start was due to him being at home writing estimates and making phone calls.
At 7.20am that morning, as she took her husband to the train station, she noticed that the builder's blue van was still in the drive.
She told the court she returned home at 7.35am and left again at 8.35am to take her children to school on foot.
Throughout her trips to and from her home she insisted Campbell's blue Ford Transit van was in his driveway, while the silver Nissan Primera belonging to Debbie - Stuart's wife - was missing.
She said: "Debbie was seven months pregnant at the time and I said to my husband that Debbie couldn't have been well and Stuart must have taken Debbie to hospital."
The following day, when Campbell started work at 9.10am he did not have the second phone with him.
When asked if she ever saw it again Mrs Hahn replied: "No, I only saw it on the Monday."
The jury heard earlier in the trial how Danielle's mobile phone had sent two messages to Campbell - one on Monday, one on Tuesday.
It has never been found.
Stuart Campbell, 44, of Meadow Road, Grays, denies the abduction and murder of Danielle Jones, of Hayle, East Tilbury. The case continues
Follow the case day by day in the Evening Echo
Published Friday November 1, 2002
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