Two alleged killers made three mistakes in an attempt to get away with murder, prosecutors told a jury.

Solicitor John Cort is accused of hiring Brian Farrell to kill business partner Vina Patel at his Leicester offices on January 15, 2009.

It is alleged Cort hoped to claim a £1.5 million life assurance payout to cover hundreds of thousands of pounds of debt and funds plundered from his own company.

Both Cort, 54, of Rutland Street, Leicester, and Farrell, 37, of Queensborough Terrace, west London, deny murder.

In his closing speech yesterday, prosecutor Timothy Spencer QC said: "This attack was carried out by a calculated and chilling team of murderers.

"The plan was neither perfect in its formulation nor in its execution, but it does not mean there was no plan, and the plan did achieve its principle purpose – to kill Vina Patel.

"It is clear that it can't have been part of the plan that DNA should be left on her hands.

"It can't have been part of the plan that the injuries be so extensive that they would indicate to a pathologist that it was not an accident.

"Nor can it have been part of the plan that these two should be traced by their phones.

"But in the heat of the moment, we all make mistakes."

He said traces of Farrell's DNA on the backs of Mrs Patel's hands, a call to Farrell by Cort moments after the alleged killing and the extent of the injuries discovered on 51-year-old Mrs Patel's body all pointed to the men's guilt.

He described the DNA as a "powerful piece of evidence" which led the defendants to devise two scenarios which would explain its presence – claiming it was either left when Cort and Farrell had sex in the offices or that it was transferred from Cort's gloves when he returned to his offices after he met Farrell the day Mrs Patel died.

Mr Spencer said Farrell and Cort had communicated by mobile phone regularly on the day of the alleged killing.

The prosecution claims that of the two phones used, one was 'pay as you go' and therefore impossible to link to Farrell, and the other – used by Cort – was later "deliberately" lost.

Mr Spencer also pointed to records which show Cort made the "mistake" of contacting Farrell on a different number, that was registered to Farrell.

Mr Spencer said the injuries suffered by Mrs Patel, including a broken neck and bruising to her face, arms and back, were not consistent with a fall.

Mr Spencer closed by saying: "There are no measures that John Cort would not stoop to in pursuit of money, including murder, and there are no lengths Brian Farrell would not stoop to in order to receive money, including murder."

The defence barristers were due to give their closing speeches today.