A TRIPLE murderer raped a pregnant woman he lured to the woods then strangled her in a five-day "campaign of crime, a court heard.

       Anthony Russell, 39, slaughtered 58-year-old Julie Williams and her son, David, 32, whose bodies were discovered at separate homes in Coventry.

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       Anthony Russell has admitted murder

       Russell also murdered 31-year-old Nicole McGregor, who was found in woodland near Leamington Spa.

       He today pleaded guilty to three counts of murder but is on trial for rape.

       Warwick Crown Court heard how Russell raped Nicole in the hours before he strangled her to death.

       The mum-to-be was five months pregnant at the time and had showed him a baby scan photo when she met him for the first time while with her boyfriend, it was said.

       Jurors heard he congratulated the couple and was later seen on CCTV walking alongside Nicole, who was a beggar in the local area.

       Russell then allegedly "lured" her to a park before allegedly raping and then killing her.

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       She was discovered after her boyfriend Christopher White recognised Russell from a photo police had circulated in relation to the Williams' killings.

       Nicole died as a result of neck compression caused by ligature strangulation with medics finding she was carrying a "fully-formed female foetus" at the time of her death.

       She was also covered in scratches "in dense underground" after allegedly being dragged there in a bid to conceal the horrific killing.

       Russell was arrested while "lying across the back seats" of a Ford C-Max he stole following a five-day manhunt.

       The court was told Julie was found face down at her flat on the evening of October 25, 2020.

       She had suffered a bleed on the brain and had been strangled and beaten in a "violent and sustained attack".

       The mum had 113 separate injuries after being hit over the head and neck, it was said.

       Her son David was found around 24 hours later in a separate flat after he vanished for six days.

       The court was told he was strangled with a lanyard before his body was left under a bed covered in 87 injuries.

       Zoe Johnson QC, told jurors that between October 21 and his arrest on October 30, Russell had "embarked on a campaign of crime" then lied in "callous and calculating fashion" to cover up his offences.

       As well as three counts of murder, he has also pleaded guilty to attacking and robbing Roy Lavens and to robbing Brian Warr and Nicole Crisp.

       Russell denies rape. The trial continues.

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       Nichole McGregor was found dead in woodland Credit: Facebook 5

       She was remembered by friends as 'beautiful' Credit: Facebook 5

       David Williams, 32, was missing for six days before he was found dead in Coventry Credit: BPM 5

       Julie Williams, 58, who was found dead at a flat at Emily Smith House 25 Credit: BPM Media