10 July 2012 Last updated at 14:55 ET

Babysitter Katie Wynter 'met killer on Facebook'

Catherine Wynter was found in a pool of blood by her mother

A babysitter stabbed to death while looking after two young children in Hertfordshire met her alleged killer via Facebook, a court has heard.

Black belt karate expert Tony Bushby, 19, of Digswell Close, Borehamwood, denies murder.

Art student Katie Wynter, 19, formed a "secretive" relationship with him, St Albans Crown Court heard.

She was stabbed 13 times in the abdomen at her sister's home in Borehamwood on Boxing Day last year.

Ms Wynter had been looking after her niece and nephew, who were unhurt, and was discovered in a pool of blood the following morning by her mother.

Kien Minh Voong, who studied with Katie at West Hertfordshire College, said her friend fell in love with Mr Bushby after meeting him on Facebook, and would travel to a clearing in a secluded wood in Borehamwood to meet him.

A second college friend, Jasmine Mandata, added that Miss Wynter was shy about the "secretive" relationship and rarely discussed it.

Miss Wynter was studying illustration at the college's School of Art and Design in Watford, where Mr Bushby also studied until June 2011.

'Talk and kiss'

However, the pair shared no classes and friends said they never saw the two together.

She had been due to complete her degree course last month.

Miss Voong added: "I didn't get the impression she saw much of him, she contacted him primarily through Facebook, phone calls and texting.

"She would always say the relationship was fine and would meet him in the forest in a clearing and just talk and kiss."

Mr Bushby was arrested on the day Miss Wynter's body was discovered.

He told police he had spoken to her the previous night as he walked home and she had told him she was babysitting.

Michael Speak, prosecuting, claimed Bushby's mobile phone had been broken intentionally but an expert said it was impossible to say how the damage had occurred.

The court also heard Bushby was a black belt in karate and had expected to go on to become an instructor.

The trial continues.