Mark Dixie's counsel has said the pub chef's defence could be seen as ridiculous.

The 37-year-old's barrister, Anthony Glass, told the Old Bailey this afternoon that Dixie had not murdered Sally Anne but had sex with her corpse after someone else had killed her.

The court heard Dixie had not realised the 18-year-old model was dead until after he had finished having sex with her.

Sally Anne Bowman died after a frenzied knife attack on September 25, 2005.

She was stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen and neck in such a savage attack the weapon passed through her body.

Mr Glass said: "He Dixie did not kill Sally Anne. His semen in or on her body was on account of him having sex with her after she was killed by her murderer.

"You might think it a very unattractive defence. He did not know she was dead until intercourse was over.

"His defence might be ridiculous but you will have the chance to say that at the end and not the beginning.

"You may think his conduct is disgusting. But he allowed his lust to get the better of him. Scientific evidence does not prove that he is a murderer."

The trial continues.