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Rurik Jutting trial: Hong Kong banker accused of murdering sex workers was 'sexually abused' at public school, court hears

Cambridge University graduate also 'thought thousands of people were watching his life as if he were Jim Carrey in The Truman Show'

Peter Walker
Monday 31 October 2016 11:57 EDT
Rurik Jutting denies murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility
Rurik Jutting denies murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility (AFP/Getty)

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The British banker accused of murdering two women in his upmarket Hong Kong flat is a narcissist who was sexually assaulted at his elite public school, a court has heard.

Rurik Jutting allegedly murdered Indonesians Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Seneng Mujiasih, 26, by slashing their throats after saying he would pay for sex.

As the trial entered its second week, the 31-year-old’s defence team claimed he suffered from narcissistic personality disorder and sexual sadism disorder.

Forensic psychiatrist Richard Latham, a defence witness, said Jutting told him he was abused at the historic Winchester College.

Seneng Mujiasih, also known as Jesse Lorena, was found dead in Rurik Jutting's luxury flat Rex
Seneng Mujiasih, also known as Jesse Lorena, was found dead in Rurik Jutting's luxury flat Rex (Rex)

“He described it in a way that he was a victim of sexual assault,” said Mr Latham.

The psychiatrist said said a boy had apparently forced Jutting to perform oral sex on him at the school, in what was an important event in the defendant’s life.

Jutting’s father also tried to take his own life when the accused was 16, the court heard.

Jurors were told how Jutting struggled at work as a person who could not empathise and sought constant praise.

An Indonesian migrant worker at a vigil for Seneng Mujiasih and Sumarti Ningsih in Hong Kong's Victoria Park on the eve of Rurik Jutting's trial AFP/Getty
An Indonesian migrant worker at a vigil for Seneng Mujiasih and Sumarti Ningsih in Hong Kong's Victoria Park on the eve of Rurik Jutting's trial AFP/Getty (AFP/Getty)

"When that breaks down the consequence is dramatic," Mr Latham told the court.

"At the time of the killings, his ability to control his behaviour was substantially impaired.”

Mr Latham also said Jutting had become increasingly interested in torture, rape and slavery as things that made him sexually excited.

The Cambridge University graduate also apparently thought thousands of people were watching his life as if he were Jim Carrey in The Truman Show film.

Jutting, who said he was introduced to cocaine by escorts in London in 2010, and moved to Hong Kong with Bank of America-Merrill Lynch in 2013.

Mr Latham said the computer gamer, who the court was told binged on takeaway food and amassed debts in 2014, drank to “achieve complete blackout”.

He allegedly tortured one of the women, Ms Ningsih, for three days before killing her and stuffing her body in a suitcase found on his balcony.

He eventually called police to his flat where the women's bodies were found in the early hours of 1 November, 2014.

Jutting has pleaded not guilty to murder. His guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was rejected by the prosecution.

The trial continues.

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