LAW student Janet Murgatroyd was murdered on her way home from an evening out and her battered body found floating in the River Ribble, Preston, a court heard yesterday (Wednesday, October 2).

Three years later Andrew Greenwood was charged with murdering Janet, 20, who worked part-time for Lancashire police.

"He now denies responsibility," prosecuting QC Peter Wright, told a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

Greenwood, 28, of Sephton Street, Lostock Hall, pleaded not guilty to murdering Janet on June 16, 1996.

Opening the prosecution case Mr Wright told the jury of nine women and three men that it is alleged Greenwood murdered her in the early hours of the morning.

A post mortem examination revealed she had died from a combination of head injuries sustained in an earlier attack and eventually of drowning.

"On August 2, 1999, the defendant, then aged 25, who was a complete stranger to Janet, approached two police officers and confessed to killing her after she had spurned his advances," said Mr Wright. He was charged with Janet's murder that evening.

Janet, a first year law student at Preston's University of Central Lancashire at the time of her death, had been making final arrangements to go back-packing around Europe with student friend Fiona Watson.

"On the night of her death she set off walking home alone from the centre of Preston and intended to go to her mother's home in nearby Broad Oak Green, Penwortham," said Mr Wright.

She spent the day with Fiona and they visited a number of pubs ending up in the Adelphi, Fylde Street, where Janet met student, Brendan Connell. Fiona chatted to his friend.

They all left together and Janet, who "had taken a shine" to Brendan, went to the rear of the Old Black Bull pub, Hill Street, where they kissed and fondled for five minutes.

Mr Connell knew she was intoxicated and decided it would be wrong to take advantage of her, though during contact he undid her jeans and the buttons of her all-in-one body top.

They walked hand-in-hand and were captured on CCTV footage walking past Tokyo Jo's nightclub. He tried to persuade her to get a taxi before leaving her after meeting some friends.

"Minutes later CCTV footage captured her weaving along Fishergate toward Penwortham Bridge over the River Ribble and home. She never made it," said Mr Wright.

Witnesses noticed she was intoxicated with part of her top hanging out over the top of her jeans. She tried unsuccessfully to flag down a taxi.

Shortly before 1am two young men found her lying half on the pavement and half in the road and offered assistance but she declined and they left. Two other young men later saw her walking toward Broadgate Gardens. They walked with her for three or four minutes to the bottom of Fishergate Hill. They intended to walk with her along Broadgate Gardens, but she declined.

Case proceeding