Rikki Neave's mother Ruth denies bragging of being 'high priestess of the occult'

Rikki Neave who was found dead at the age of six in woodland in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Rikki Neave died in November 1994 and was found near his home in Peterborough Credit: Cambridgeshire Police/PA

The mother of schoolboy Rikki Neave has told a court she had no interest in black magic and denied boasting of being a "high priestess of the occult".

Ruth Neave was cleared of killing six-year-old Rikki, who was found strangled and posed naked in a star shape in woodland near his Peterborough home in 1994.

On Wednesday, Ms Neave was quizzed as a witness at the Old Bailey about her interest in murder and the occult by a lawyer for James Watson, who is on trial for Rikki's murder.

Watson, now aged 40, was charged with murder after his DNA was allegedly found on Rikki's clothes found dumped in a wheelie bin.

The prosecution alleges that police were focused on Ms Neave as a suspect when they should have been looking at 13-year-old Watson, who was seen with Rikki on the day he went missing.

Ruth Neave giving evidence via video link from Cambridge at the murder trial of James Watson. Credit: Elizabeth Cook/PA

'High priestess' claim denied

Jennifer Dempster QC read a selection of titles of books that were among 143 items seized from Ms Neave's home in the wake of Rikki's death, which included books about Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, and unsolved killings.

Ms Neave told jurors that it was not illegal to be interested in the subject.

Ms Dempster went on to list books on the occult and sorcery such as Aleister Crowley's Magick In Theory And Practice, which was written in 1929.

The lawyer said it was about "rituals and sacrifices", and referred to "black magic", rituals of Pentagram and included diagrams of star shapes.

Ms Neave said she did not believe in the occult "now", adding that she had only been interested in Tarot and Quija boards and "stuff like that".

Rikki Neave's mother Ruth Neave arriving at Parkside police station in Cambridge to give evidence via video link. Credit: Terry Harris

She denied having a conversation about how she could get away with the "perfect murder" when watching a television programme about forensic science.

Asked if she ever described herself as a "high priestess of the occult", she said: "No such thing."

Ms Neave also denied being into black magic involving "pins and dolls".

The witness laughed off an allegation that she told a police officer in January 1995 that she "had taken part in a seance to try to contact Rikki".

Watson, of no fixed abode, has denied the charge of murder. The trial continues.