Accused Sex Worker States Meeting Murder Victim for Drug Purchase

A woman engaged in sex work, who is facing charges for a man’s murder, asserted that she had arranged to encounter him for the purpose of purchasing drugs, but she denied committing the killing. Rebecca Moore, 25, is accused of luring Sacad Ali, 24, to The Ponderosa in Sheffield on 9 March, where he was fatally stabbed. Earlier this year, two male juveniles, aged 16 and 17, admitted guilt to charges of murder and the possession of an offensive weapon. At the Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on Monday, Ms Moore, whose address is Springvale Walk, entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of Mr Ali. The court was informed that Ms Moore had engaged in sex work to finance a drug dependency, which she testified began when she was 14 years old, subsequent to the killing of her boyfriend, who was a drug dealer. She informed the jury that on 8 March, she had been employed in a red-light district within Sheffield and had been “drinking and consuming lots of drugs”. According to her statement, upon visiting an associate’s flat to acquire additional crack-cocaine, she encountered the two adolescents. The court had previously been apprised that the boys, whose identities are protected due to their age, were implicated in operating a drug supply network. Ms Moore recounted asking them for drugs, but stated that “they only had heroin,” after which they provided her with the telephone number of an individual known as “Ghost,” whom the court was told was Mr Ali. Ms Moore, who possesses prior convictions for drug and assault offences, stated, “The call was answered on the second time that I rang it.” “I asked him if I could purchase crack-cocaine, we talked about sex work.” She added, “He said he was interested in doing business with me.” Surveillance footage recorded Ms Moore traversing Addy Street alongside the two teenagers during the early morning hours of March 9. In response to inquiries regarding this, Ms Moore asserted that the three individuals had not conversed about proceeding to The Ponderosa collectively, and that the boys had informed her of their intention to go to a supermarket. Ms Moore stated that upon her eventual meeting with Mr Ali, she acquired £20 worth of drugs from him, and they “talked about sex work.” The legal proceedings are ongoing.