Pub chef accused of murdering his ex-partner 'told undercover cop he killed missing mother-of-four, cut up her body and dumped her remains in water', court told
- Darren Osment, 41, is on trial for the murder of missing mother Claire Holland
- The mother-of-four, 32, has been missing since she was seen in Bristol in 2012
A pub chef who is accused of murdering his ex-partner suggested to an undercover cop he killed the missing mother-of-four and cut up her body, a court has heard.
Darren Osment is on trial accused of murdering Claire Holland in a drunken argument, hours after she was last seen leaving a pub in Bristol city centre in 2012.
The body of the mother who went missing at 32 has never been found, but Bristol Crown Court heard that when Osment became a suspect, a police officer went undercover to befriend him.
Osment, 41, became friends with the officer posing as 'Paddy O'Hara', a man with links to organised crime.
The court heard that between December 2020 and July 2022, the pair would spend many hours together playing pool and snooker and going for walks together.
Jurors were played recordings of the conversations between the two, with Osment allegedly beginning to confide in Mr O'Hara about what had happened to Ms Holland, discussing alibis, and potentially trying to blame other people.
In one conversation Osment allegedly suggested to Mr O'Hara that as a trained chef he has 'knife skills' and ran his hand across his torso while making a swishing sound to indicate he had cut up Ms Holland's body.
Osment, of Patchway, South Gloucestershire, has pleaded not guilty to a murder between June 5 and June 8 2012.
Darren Osment on a body cam talking to the undercover officer on June 15, 2022
Osment talking to Paddy O'Hara while the pair spend time together on June 3, 2021
Mother-of-four Claire Holland disappeared from Bristol city centre in 2012 and neither she or her body have been found. Osment is on trial accused of her murder
Jurors were played recordings of what prosecutors said were conversations between the undercover officer and Osment.
On one recording, Osment appeared to say that he has 'knife skills' as a trained chef and indicated he had cut up the missing woman's body.
Mr O'Hara asks on the tape 'why it hasn't floated to the top' and Osment allegedly responded it had been 'weighed down',
Osment appears to say on the tape that he trusts Mr O'Hara 'like a brother' and says 'what I had to do' was 'not pleasant bro, it was horrible'.
The defendant later told Mr O'Hara he had got rid of the weapon by putting it in the knife box of another chef he was working with at the time, the court heard.
He allegedly went on to tell him: 'It's what it is, but it's all done, done and dusted....clothes burnt outside, everything's gone, everything's gone.
'As far as I am aware, the bits and pieces are scattered.'
During a trip to Llandudno in North Wales in May last year, Osment allegedly old Mr O'Hara: 'You know what I mean? Like I said I'm not going to go into any details, I did what I did, I did what I done.
'You don't need to know any more, I don't need to say any more...it's not a thing you go into details about.
'It makes me feel sick. But I did it for (my child). Cause she harmed my child.
'And that was her fault. I gave her every opportunity to do things right, I gave her money, money coming out of my arse.
CCTV of Ms Holland's last moments before she disappeared without a trace in 2012
Claire Holland disappeared after leaving a Seamus O'Donnell pub on St Nicholas St in Bristol
A court artist sketch of Darren Osment at Bristol Crown Court where he is on trial or murder
Bodycam footage of Osment being arrested for the murder of Claire Holland
'Don't f*** with my family. You harm (my child) or (my other child) mate, you're going to get it.'
The court heard that by this point, Osment knew he was under suspicion for murdering Ms Holland because he had been arrested by detectives in March that year and released on bail until June.
In June he was informed no further action would be taken against him, and the pair begin discussing his release from bail.
Osment allegedly told the undercover officer: 'As far as I am concerned it's been dealt with to an extent.
'I don't think there's nothing else that's gonna pop up that you pretty much don't already know about.
'I don't know, unless they pull a miracle... they shouldn't ever have to question me again.
'As far as I am concerned, I haven't got a clue. I was at work, I finished work, I went home. I've got an alibi all the way.
'Even if they can pull rabbits out of hats, they are still going to struggle big time.
'I know they are, especially when I have got little swerve balls to throw at them still.
'It's what it is, it's done, and as far as I am concerned I am going to forget about it now.'
The trial continues.
