A missing woman who was found dead near the A31 was allegedly killed by a work colleague and wheeled out of work in a wheelie bin, a court has heard.

Cleaner Yajaira Castro Mendez, aged 46, had allegedly previously been in a relationship with Juan Francisco Toledo, who is married and is accused of her murder.

Her body was found in the Bolderwood area of the New Forest on Saturday after she was reported missing to the Met Police on May 31.

She was seen leaving her home in Ilford, east London, on the morning of May 29.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey today, it was alleged that Ms Mendez arrived for work at 5pm on May 29 and was fatally injured inside the office block.

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Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC claimed that Toledo had killed the Colombian national at an office where they were working in central London’s legal district.

She told the court: “The defendant was Ms Mendez’s work colleague. They were both cleaning staff at an office building on Grays Inn Road and they had been in recent history in a relationship and on the day of her death they were both at work.”

Mr Carberry claimed that just after 8.30pm, her body was removed from the office in a wheelie bin.

Screens were put up on the A31 ahead her body was found nearby.Screens were put up on the A31 ahead her body was found nearby. (Image: Simon Rowley) The defendant allegedly then placed the body in his car and drove to Hampshire where the body was dumped.

Screens were placed on the A31 and it was partially closed for three days following the discovery of her body, which was formally identified last night.

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Ms Mendez’s former flatmate had become concerned after she failed to move into new accommodation, the court was told.

Venezuelan national Toledo, 51, of Crystal Palace, south London, was arrested on June 4 and subsequently charged with murder.

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A plea hearing has been set for September 1 with a provisional trial from April 20, 2026.

Toledo, who was assisted by a Spanish interpreter, was remanded into custody.

Ms Mendez’s disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers.

However, the investigation was transferred to the Met’s Specialist Crime Command on June 5, after a range of extensive further inquiries suggested she had come to harm.