As his murder trial was set to get under way, Shane Mays admitted killing Louise Smith, who is the cousin of his wife. She went missing as the country marked VE Day on May 8

A married man admitted killing a teenager just as his murder trial was about to get under way.

Shane Mays is charged with murdering 16-year-old Louise Smith after her body was found dumped in dense woodland a mile from her home.

However, before the trial was opened, Mays entered a late guilty plea to manslaughter.

The 30-year-old, whose wife Cjay Mays is Louise’s cousin, will now stand trial for murder, with the case expected to begin on Tuesday.

Louise, a popular college student, went missing in Havant, Hants, as the nation celebrated VE Day on May 8 this year, sparking a huge search from her community.

The teenager’s body was found by police a mile-and-a-half from Mays’ flat in the dense woodland area of Havant Thicket on May 21, following an extensive fingertip search by police.

The shocking incident rocked Louise’s community in the Leigh Park area of Havant.