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Schoolgirl's body 'ended up in kebabs'
A MURDER trial was today told how a fast food boss bragged that missing Blackpool teenager Charlene Downes "had ended up in one of the kebabs".
Iyad Bassar Albattikhi went on trial today accused of the murder of the 14-year-old.
Charlene, of Buchanan Street, disappeared in November 2003.
Despite a massive police search she has never been found.
Albattikhi, 29, denies murder while co-accused Mohammed Reza Reveshi, 50, denies the disposal of the body of Charlene's body.
Both men were co-owners of the Funny Boyz takeaway in Dickson Road at the time of Charlene disappearance.
Outlining the prosecution case, Timothy Holroyde QC told a jury at Preston Crown Court both Albattikhi and Raveshi lied to the police about knowing Charlene.
He added they would hear from a Kirsty Fletcher, a witness who worked another takeaway named Heat on Dickson Road.
Ms Fletcher said she was told the owner of Heat - known by the name Chico - knew Albattikhi and knew he was in the company of white girls.
Mr Holroyde added: "These people were talking about sex with white girls and there was some mention of having sex with Charlene.
"Albattikhi laughed and said she was kinky and very small - the plainest possible indication that he was lying to the police about knowing her.
"He and the others present were then laughing saying that Charlene had gone into the kebabs."
Mr Holroyde told the court the teenager frequented a number of fast food outlets on Dickson Road where sexual activities had occurred.
Jordanian-born Albattikhi told the police he did not know Miss Downes and neither did his alleged accomplice.
Mr Holroyde told the court that witnesses would tell the eight-week trial some of the workers at the takeaways carried out "sexual activity" with some of the "white girls".
The court was told that Charlene lived in a "chaotic" family home on Buchanan Street close to the town centre.
When she was last seen on November 1, 2003 she had waved goodbye to her mother Karen.
The prosecution said it was likely that is the night she had been murdered by Albattikhi.
Her body was disposed of by both Albattikhi of Dickson Road, and Raveshi, who is Iranian-born and of Hornby Road, defendants, the court was told.
Mr Holroyde told the jury: "It will be clear to you already that Charlene Downes was leading a lifestyle which put her at considerable risk and made her very vulnerable.
"Funny Boyz was one of the places she use to hang around.
"She was seen talking to Albattikhi on several occasions."
(Proceeding)
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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