JURY members in the Steve Wright trial were today told not to let the emotional aspects of the case affect their decisions.In preparing the jury for today's visits to the key sites which feature in the case, Mr Justice Gross told them that their verdict must be based solely on the evidence put before them at Ipswich Crown Court.

JURY members in the Steve Wright trial were today told not to let the emotional aspects of the case affect their decisions.

In preparing the jury for today's visits to the key sites which feature in the case, Mr Justice Gross told them that their verdict must be based solely on the evidence put before them at Ipswich Crown Court.

His comments came as the jury prepared to visit the sites where the bodies of Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Annette Nicholls, Anneli Alderton and Paula Clennell were dumped on the outskirts of Ipswich.

Steve Wright, 49, of London Road, Ipswich denies murdering the women.

Before they were taken as a group to the locations at Hintlesham, Copdock Mill, Nacton and Levington in the company of Mr Justice Gross, court ushers, bailiffs and legal teams in the case, the jury members were brought into court one of the crown court where Mr Justice Gross told them to stay together and ignore media interest in the case.

Mr Justice Gross said: “Please would you stay together, avoid contact with others who are not members of the jury. A police officer will explain more to you about the visit and the sites you are visiting.

“The document from which he will be working is an agreed document. There will be a shorthand writer present on the visit if any questions or answers need to be reported.

“There may be media interest in the visit, please do not be worried or distracted by that. Concentrate on the visit not on any media interest.”

The judge then told them that there may be floral or other kinds of tributes at some of the sites where the woman were dumped, but he asked the jury not to let those messages or flowers affect their decision which he said should only be made on the evidence in the case.

He said: “In due course I will be directing you in more detail to approach this case dispassionately and to decide the case on, and only on, the evidence. The tributes to the deceased are plainly irrelevant in that.

“The tributes cannot and do not assist you in deciding the evidence in this case. Please do not take time inspecting the tributes.”

He instructed them not to let their sympathy for the women's relatives influence them.

The jury was then taken as a group from the court in preparation for their departure on the day's visits which will also take in 79 London Road - the house Wright shared with his partner Pamela Wright - and Ipswich's red light district.