Found Deceased UK - Lindsay Birbeck, 47, Accrington, 12 Aug 2019 *Arrest* #2

[JosieJo]

I'm still really open minded at the minute ..obviously early days .. I had him working alone totally..but after today not so sure his version is as mad as it sounds
I'm hoping there is something to clarify yet to come via the prosecution
I'm a bit worried by the fact that they dont know exactly the spot she was killed and no mention of intimate DNA yet
I'm holding faith that the police have looked at every possibility of a "third party" and found nothing

 

[Niner]

Thank you ALL for the updates! Helps me catch since I'm following way too my cases on here.

Question - how come the defense get to do their opening statements? They just get to do that after the pros get finished with their case? TIA!

 

[Alyce]

Waves to Niner

The Defence have not done an opening statement. What we are seeing is just the accused's statement, that he gave to police when he was arrested and interviewed, pre trial. So it is, of course, his defence, but this is being presented by the Prosecution, not by the Defence team.

 

[Alyce]

From Lancs live reporting
On August 28, forensic botanist Dr Mark Spencer attended the clandestine grave in Accrington Cemetery.
Mr McLachlan told the jury that vegetation was recovered from under Lindsay Birbeck’s body.
He said: “The vegetation appeared to have been pulled by hand. There were no signs of the plant stems being cut. It is probable that the person doing this wore gloves to pull up the vegetation.
“The majority of the vegetation appeared to have originated from within the woodland in Accrington Cemetery.
“However, Dr Spencer said his conclusions should be viewed cautiously.”
The jury heard that vegetation from under Lindsay’s body had come from elsewhere.



From Lancashire Telegraph
Dr Mark Spencer, a forensic botanist, concluded that plants found under Lindsay's body were not from Accrington Cemetery but from The Coppice.

 

[Skigh]

Boy, 16, strangled teaching assistant mother of two and dragged body through streets in wheelie bin | Daily Mail Online

 

[JosieJo]

I thought it meant elsewhere other than the Ditch she was in but still from cemetery area ??

 

[Alyce]

I thought it meant elsewhere other than the Ditch she was in but still from cemetery area ??

I think it was the soil found on top of the body that came from a different part of the cemetery

 

[JosieJo]

I think it was the soil found on top of the body that came from a different part of the cemetery

Yes maybe that was it

 

[Lucy6226]

My son has autism and has not concept of danger, risk or consequence. So if he does indeed have autism this could be used to explain him following the alleged third party instruction to bury the body. It would be obvious to a non ASD person.
The pulling up of fake flowers and grass to bury the body shows some care in the burial. Cutting the shoes off to avoid breaking the ankle or foot is also a possibility as mentioned earlier. So, maybe it's not as cut and dry as first thought? MOO

 

[Bluetooth]

I'm hoping they have something else on him, because i think that is exactly what we are looking at. They have to prove he killed her. So far, they can prove he moved her thats it from what has been said today.

I wonder what will happen tomorrow in court. We have yet to hear the motive and evidence linking him directly to the murder.

 

[Doris777]

Hi everyone I'm new here so please delete if not aloud. I've been following the trial all day. There are 2 newspapers that are giving minute by minute updates. What I've heard today is shocking. I'm quite local to the area and to think this happened on my doorstep is crazy. I did wonder if he was covering up for someone and today it was said he just moved a body...makes sense of its true. Second I wonder if like others have said it's just all been premeditated as he's seen continuously over the days she went missing and after. It's saying he kept going back to the cemetery...that's what some people do isn't it...go back to the scene of the crime..I really can't predict how this trial is going to go...I do think the mild learning difficulty is something that might help to get him a not guilty plea...all my opinion of course.

 

[Lucy6226]

Please can we stop referring to his 'mild learning difficulty'!

The Judge has told the jury "that the defendant has ‘moderate learning disabilities’ and will be helped during the trial by an intermediary."

Moderate. Disabilities. Very different from a mild difficulty! He might be guilty but please can we not minimise his disabilities

 

[Bampot]

.I really can't predict how this trial is going to go...I do think the mild learning difficulty is something that might help to get him a not guilty plea...all my opinion of course.[/QUOTE]

How could having a learning disability help him get a not guilty?

 

[Doris777]

My son has autism and has not concept of danger, risk or consequence. So if he does indeed have autism this could be used to explain him following the alleged third party instruction to bury the body. It would be obvious to a non ASD person.
The pulling up of fake flowers and grass to bury the body shows some care in the burial. Cutting the shoes off to avoid breaking the ankle or foot is also a possibility as mentioned earlier. So, maybe it's not as cut and dry as first thought? MOO

See I thought this about the disability. Which I do understand. Because I no that if it was one of us we would never even think that is normal for some random to come up to u and say hide a body for me will u...so I do understand for someone with a learning disorder that they wouldn't understand the severity of the situation. Only thing is I wonder if it's just an excuse and there looking for a way out...? My opinion of course

 

[Doris777]

.I really can't predict how this trial is going to go...I do think the mild learning difficulty is something that might help to get him a not guilty plea...all my opinion of course.

How could having a learning disability help him get a not guilty?[/QUOTE]


He wouldn't understand the severity of the situation if he does have autism. It all depends on what level his autism is. The court could say he didn't understand what he was doing... meaning he would literally get away with murder. All depends what comes out this next few weeks. Moo

 

[Bampot]

Jonty Bravery with autism understood the severity of his actions - he wanted to murder someone.

 

[Rosegold68]

autism, learning difficulties or disabilities.....he's been deemed fit to stand trial

thats what matters here

did he ever go to school? can he read/write?

 

[Kaykedi]

See I thought this about the disability. Which I do understand. Because I no that if it was one of us we would never even think that is normal for some random to come up to u and say hide a body for me will u...so I do understand for someone with a learning disorder that they wouldn't understand the severity of the situation. Only thing is I wonder if it's just an excuse and there looking for a way out...? My opinion of course

IF there was a man that asked him to move a body for him, he'll know him. MOO

 

[Doris777]

IF there was a man that asked him to move a body for him, he'll know him. MOO

I agree! I do think theres alot more to it than "a masked stranger asked me to hide a body.!"

Moo

 

[Kaykedi]

I agree! I do think theres alot more to it than "a masked stranger asked me to hide a body.!"

Moo

Yes, if a murderer is wandering around the streets looking for a stranger to move a body for him it gets a bit messy doesn't it?!