GUILTY UK - Linda Hood, 68, found strangled after house fire, Gorleston, Norfolk, 11 June 2021 *ARREST*

[MsMiniSleuth]

A man accused of killing his sister-in-law has denied telling lies to try to cover his tracks.

Paul Kelly-Bridle, 59, is on trial after Linda Hood, 68, was found dead inside her home in Cherwell Way, Gorleston, on June 11 last year - on what would have been her birthday.

Norwich Crown Court has heard she was strangled to death and an armchair was set on fire in her living room in what prosecutors say was an effort to destroy evidence.

[...]

Under cross examination on Monday (December 5) he gave contradictory accounts on his movements including about whether he had returned to her home on June 11.

Prosecuting Kharim Khalil KC said in his defence statement he had admitted returning and suggested this was to check whether the fire was still burning.

But Kelly-Bridle replied: “I can’t remember going back.”

Asked why he had not called 999 after finding his sister-in-law he replied it was because he had “panicked”.

Mr Khalil said: “You panicked because you killed her?”

He replied: “I didn’t.”

It was put to Kelly-Bridle that his interest in TV crime programmes had prompted him to leave his mobile phone at home in a deliberate attempt to avoid police tracing his movements.

[...]

Mr Khalil asked whether he had made up claims that he had been paid by Ms Hood to do odd jobs at her home as a way to account for a £20 note found in his home having her fingerprints on it.

He replied: “I’m not lying.”

[...]

Murder suspect accused of telling lies to cover killing of sister-in-law

Paul Kelly-Bridle is accused of strangling his sister-in-law to death before setting fire to her Gorleston house to cover his tracks.

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A jury has been told a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law has "forced himself into the dark corner of guilt from which he cannot now escape".

[...]

In his closing speech on Wednesday (December 7) Karim Khalil KC, prosecuting, told the jury this was a "sad case" of the "brutal murder of a fiercely independent woman who had some learning difficulties on the day before her 68th birthday".

He said Kelly-Bridle, who also has learning difficulties and was related to Mrs Hood by marriage, had "acted with callous determination and tried to cover evidence by setting fire to her home".

Mr Khalil said Kelly-Bridle had "left a trail of evidence behind him which he's tried to explain to you but has trapped him at every turn".

The jury of six men and six women were told by Mr Khalil that Kelly-Bridle's account of finding Mrs Hood's door open was a "plain lie".

He said after Mrs Hood was knocked to the floor by Kelly-Bridle in a "series of assaults" to the face and head Mrs Hood was then strangled by the defendant.

Mr Khalil said Kelly-Bridle "pressed down continuously" on her neck until "life drained away from her".

He said Mrs Hood had "attempted to fend off her assailant" and in so doing would have scratched him.

[...]

Mr Khalil said Kelly-Bridle had been "trapped by the avalanche of evidence" which has "forced himself into the dark corner of guilt from which he cannot now escape".

[...]

Prosecution closing speech in Norfolk murder trial

A jury has been told a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law has "forced himself into the dark corner of guilt from which he…

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Jurors have been sent out to consider verdicts in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home.

[...]

The jury of six men and six women were sent out to consider verdicts at 12.33pm on Thursday (December 8) by Judge Alice Robinson who urged them to strive to reach verdicts on which they were all agreed.

Earlier, Judge Robinson finished her summing up of the evidence in the case after closing speeches were delivered by Karim Khalil KC, prosecuting, and John Hardy KC, defending.

Mr Khalil said Kelly-Bridle had been "trapped by the avalanche of evidence" which has "forced himself into the dark corner of guilt from which he cannot now escape".

Mr Hardy said although the "finger of suspicion" points at his client it was "no more than that" and urged jurors to find him not guilty.

[...]

Norfolk murder trial jury sent out to consider verdicts

Jurors have been sent out to consider verdicts in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home.

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[chimpface]

Thick a brick this one, guilty.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Jurors in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home have resumed deliberations in the case.

[...]

The jury of six men and six women was sent back out to continue deliberations at 10.41am today (Friday, December 9) after having been sent home for the night at 4pm yesterday (Thursday, December 7).

Judge Alice Robinson had initially sent jurors out at 12.33pm on Thursday (December 8) to consider verdicts in the case.

[...]

Jury resume deliberations in Norfolk murder trial

Jurors in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home have resumed deliberations in the case.

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Norfolk murder trial jury sent home for weekend

Jurors in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home will resume deliberations on Monday…

www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk

Jurors in the case of a man accused of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home will resume deliberations on Monday morning after being sent home.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A man has been found guilty of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her home to cover his tracks.

Paul Kelly-Bridle, 59, was convicted of the murder of Linda Hood following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

[...]

On Monday, after 10 hours and 49 minutes of deliberations, a jury of six men and six women found Kelly-Bridle guilty of murder by a majority verdict.

They also found him guilty of arson.

Kelly-Bridle, who wore a dark grey jumper, appeared to bow his head in the dock as the verdicts were announced, at the end of a three-week trial.

Judge Alice Robinson adjourned sentence for a date to be fixed, so that a report could be carried out.

Speaking after the verdicts, Mrs Hood's brother Anthony said: “Linda was a much-loved sister and member of the local community in Gorleston who despite her learning disabilities lived a fiercely independent life.

"Her life was cruelly cut short by a truly callous crime, planned and committed by Paul Kelly-Bridle.

“It has been a re-affirmation of my belief in the rule of law in a democracy to see justice in action during the trial.

"And although, of course, this will not bring Linda back, justice has been done."

[...]

Norfolk man guilty of murdering sister-in-law

A has been found guilty of strangling to death his sister-in-law before setting fire to her Gorleston home to cover his tracks.

www.edp24.co.uk