A juror in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering two sisters in a park has been discharged after testing positive for Covid-19.

Danyal Hussein, 19, is alleged to have savagely stabbed Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, in the early hours of June 6 last year.

The two girls were the daughters of former Southend Archdeacon, Mina Smallman.

The sisters’ bodies were discovered concealed in bushes near a spot where they had been celebrating Ms Henry’s birthday in Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north-west London.

During Hussein’s Old Bailey trial, jurors have been socially distanced and divided by screens in court.

On Monday, Mrs Justice Whipple formally discharged one juror who had tested positive for Covid-19.

She moved to reassure the remaining 11 men and women that the arrangements in court are safe.

Giving evidence, Detective Constable David Owen described what was found in a search of Hussein’s home following his arrest on July 1 last year.

Among the items seized from his bedroom was a piece of green card with an agreement with a demon to “sacrifice” women and win the lottery signed in Hussein’s blood, the court heard.

Jurors heard prints from Hussein’s right thumb and right forefinger were on the handwritten document.

Nearby were pieces of paper with symbols drawn on them, lottery tickets and a paper pouch containing more paper with symbols and a pendant on a chain, the witness said.

A blue latex glove and black balaclava were on the floor of a wardrobe, jurors were told.

A blue Nike rucksack containing a folding survival shovel was also seized, Dc Owen said.

The jury was reminded that a matching rucksack was allegedly used by Hussein when he bought a set of knives in Asda before the killings.

The court also heard evidence that Hussein had bought the balaclava and folding shovel in a two-pack from Amazon for a total of £26.97.

Dc Owen said officers had looked for the knife block without success.

He went on to detail the search of a refuse centre where belongings left in Fryent Country Park were believed to have been taken by rubbish collectors.

He told the court: “We were lucky (that) members of the party who had been with Nicole and Bibaa had taken photos from the party. We were able to identify items we were looking for.”

Jurors were shown a picture of Ms Smallman and Ms Henry taken by a friend on the night of the birthday party in the park.

In it, the sisters were shown sitting on a grey blanket with cushions and picnic items strewn around.

The entire contents of a 40-tonne refuse lorry were picked through in the search for evidence, the court heard.

A large blue holdall was recovered, containing bloodstained grey blankets, an unopened sparkling wine bottle, a selfie stick and LED colour changing lights, the jury was told.

Bloodstained cushions were found in a separate area, one bearing the the words “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass – it’s about learning to dance in the rain”.

A humorous birthday card addressed to Bibaa was recovered from inside a blue rubbish bag.

Hussein, of Guy Barnett Grove, Blackheath, south-east London, has denied two counts of murder and possessing a knife.

The trial continues.