Married Juan Francisco Toledo has denied murdering his work colleague and alleged former lover Yajaira Castro Mendez before disposing of her body in the New Forest in June
A married man has appeared in court after the body of his alleged former lover was discovered dumped in a wheelie bin.
Juan Francisco Toledo is accused of murdering his ex co-worker Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46. He had previously been in a relationship with the woman, the Old Bailey has heard. The court was told that Toledo allegedly killed her at an office block they were working at, in central London’s legal district, before wheeling her out in the bin.
Toledo denied murdering Ms Mendez and perverting the course of justice by concealing and disposing of her body on or before June 7. The defendant used a Spanish translator and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and to plead not guilty.
Ms Mendez arrived for work at 5pm on May 29 and was fatally injured inside the office block on Grays Inn Road, it was alleged in June. Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC claimed during the hearing that Ms Mendez’s body was removed from the office in a wheelie bin just after 8.30pm.
The defendant allegedly then placed her in his car and drove to Hampshire where the body was dumped. The Colombian national, who lived in Ilford, east London, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31.
Ms Mendez’s former flatmate raised the alarm after she failed to move into new accommodation, the court was told. Venezuelan national Toledo, 51, of Crystal Palace, south London, was arrested on June 4 and subsequently charged with murder.
Following a police search, Ms Mendez’s body was found in the rural Bolderwood area of Hampshire on June 7.
His trial is due to begin on April 20 next year.