Nikitta Grender murder: Victim died fortnight before child due

Nikitta Grender was two weeks away from giving birth to a baby girl

A man raped and stabbed his cousin's pregnant teenage girlfriend two weeks before she was due to give birth, a murder trial has heard.

Nikitta Grender, 19, was found dead in her burning flat in Liswerry, Newport, in February 2011.
Newport Crown Court heard that she suffered a stomach wound which penetrated her unborn baby girl.
Carl Whant, 27, of Bettws, near Newport, denies murder, child destruction, rape and arson.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Greg Taylor QC told the jury that Ms Grender was living with Mr Whant's second cousin, Ryan Mayes, 18, the father of the child.
She had been in an on-off relationship with Mr Mayes for four years.

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It was common knowledge that she disliked him.. she knew (the defendant) was a self-confessed cocaine user and a bad influence on her boyfriend”

Mr Taylor said: "They moved into a new flat the previous September - Nikitta's mother lived around the corner to help her out.

"Nikitta visited the midwife regularly with Ryan and they were both looking forward to the birth of their child.
"They had decorated one room in the flat and had bought a cot and pram - they were well prepared."
The court heard that on the night of 4 February 2011 Mr Mayes went to a pub to watch a rugby match on TV with Mr Whant, a nightclub doorman, and other friends, later ending up at a house party.
But while he was out, Ms Grender and their unborn baby - who she had already named Kelsey-May - were killed.
Forensic evidence Ms Grender detested Mr Whant so much she avoided speaking to him when they were together, the jury was told.
Mr Taylor said that Mr Whant "raped her, he murdered her and destroyed her unborn child".
He said forensic evidence showed Mr Whant had had sex with Ms Grender.
''There was no question of him having consensual sex with Nikitta," said Mr Taylor. "It was common knowledge that she disliked him.
"She knew (the defendant) was a self-confessed cocaine user and a bad influence on her boyfriend."
The prosecution said there was no doubt that Ms Grender had been killed before the fire started.
Her body was found on the bed, the court heard. The bed had been set alight to try to mask the murder, the jury was told, and firefighters called to the blazing flat were met by a ball of flame.
Mr Taylor QC said the fire on the bed had been lit in three different places, probably with a lighter.
The fire service was called out at 07:50 and had the blaze under control by 08:15.
The prosecution said it was clear Ms Grender had been murdered by stabbing.
Blood tests had proved that she had not died from the effects of the smoke.
The jury was shown pictures of marks on Mr Whant's arms. He claimed it was caused the night before as he attempted to stop a woman from attacking someone else.