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

[jamjim]

15:18
CCTV of defendant's movements on August 23, 2019
The jury are now being shown different CCTV clips of the defendant’s movements on August 23, 2019.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

August 24, 2019 - the day Lindsay was found
The jury are now being show CCTV of the defendant on August 24, 2019.

This was the day Lindsay Birbeck’s body was found at Accrington Cemetery.

The defendant was observed walking up Whitewell Road towards Burnley Road and then into the cemetery.

He later walked across the grass away from where Lindsay was discovered and exited the cemetery.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[Niner]

Thank you very much Alyce & Ann Blyth! That sounds a lot better than calling all these people up to the stand.
By the way - I had a paperdoll of Ann Blyth!

 

[MusicalMonkey]

One thing that came to me as details of this case broke was that it was (and still is) being described as a completely 'random attack'.

But how do they know that the victim wasn't 'stalked' to some degree? As with the majority of people, she seemed to have a 'regular timetable' and was a regular walker in the place where the incident took place.

I understand it from the prosecutions point of view. As they have to have a definite angle. But as an interested observer, I couldn't rule this out based on what I know.

 

[jamjim]

15:37
Trial adjourned for today
The trial has now been adjourned for today and will sit again at 10.30am tomorrow.

Prosecutor David McLachlan QC said the jury will hear evidence about the discovery of Lindsay Birbeck’s body and also pathology evidence.


Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

15:38
Trial will not sit on Monday, March 2
Her Honour Mrs Justice Yip has told the jury that the trial will not sit on Monday, March 2.

She said: “We are doing relatively well in terms of progress.”

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[Mind your biscuits]

If it was fresh blood, on August 18 then I don't see how it could be Lindsay's - based on the PM finding that her death would have been on or about August 12.

Good point.

 

[Alyce]

2:40pm

PC John Cuthbertson, a police dog handler, was tasked to search the cemetery at 9.30am on Tuesday, August 20.

He said they discovered the wheelie bin, which looked relatively clean.

The search was concluded at 10.30am and said the dog had searched the area "without trace."

After being shown where Lindsay's body had been found, he said this was roughly six metres away from where the wheelie bin had been discovered


This from Lancs Telegraph link. Im sorry but i refuse to believe Lyndsay could have been there on 20th. Her body was in such state of decompostion that there were flies and a bad smell, yet a police dog and handler searched within at least 6m of that less than 4 days previous?

I agree. It is very strange. 6 metres is nothing, distance wise. Plus, as I mentioned in my earlier post, if he had a dog, then surely the dog had been given scent of Lindsay to help with the search.
All these other people with dogs who seem to investigate, but the police dog does not ?

eta - and yet, all the cctv evidence so far seems to indicate that Lindsay was moved on August 17.

 

[MusicalMonkey]

I would have thought if she had taken off her jacket herself it would have been turned the right way with the purple colour showing,rather than inside out ,showing the red lining.

Has the type of fence been described? As in was there any barbed wire involved?

One theory is that the coat could have been used to assist in 'dragging something' over a fence. In the way one might put something over a barbed wire fence to climb over to avoid it catching/scratching.

 

[MusicalMonkey]

15:37
Trial adjourned for today
The trial has now been adjourned for today and will sit again at 10.30am tomorrow.

I refer to the post on the adjournment of yesterday's proceedings where it was noted.

Why oh why is the defence QC staying "2 hours away"? There are some lovely places to stay in and around the Preston area.

A 4 hour return journey just seems ridiculous. Given this could easily be cut down to 30 minutes or even much much less.

The term 'staying' implies that it is not his usual home he is returning to, so . . .

 

[Tortoise]

15:45
Case closed for the day
The trial has now been adjourned until 10.30am tomorrow morning.

The defendant’s barrister Mark Fenhalls QC told the court that this is because he faces a journey of more than two hours to where he is staying.

Thank you for following today’s live blog.

We will bring you more updates from court on Thursday.
Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

It's not clear IMO if 'he faces a journey..' refers to the QC or the defendant.

 

[Alyce]

Has the type of fence been described? As in was there any barbed wire involved?
One theory is that the coat could have been used to assist in 'dragging something' over a fence. In the way one might put something over a barbed wire fence to climb over to avoid it catching/scratching.

From yesterday's evidence

Red coat seen hanging on barb wire fence
Judith Bibby said she noticed a red anorak hanging on a barb wire fence.
She said: “It was a nice day that day. I thought it was strange.”
The jury heard that the only way of getting to the anorak was through a field because the brambles were so overgrown.

 

[Alyce]

It's not clear IMO if 'he faces a journey..' refers to the QC or the defendant.

Ah yes, that would make more sense. It did seem a bit indulgent for Defence Counsel to stop Court early due to his accommodation arrangements.

and I suppose it could mean * up to 2 hours * journey - if he is being transferred to and from with other remand prisoners who have to be dropped at different venues.

 

[MusicalMonkey]

Ah yes, that would make more sense. It did seem a bit indulgent for Defence Counsel to stop Court early due to his accommodation arrangements.

and I suppose it could mean * up to 2 hours * journey - if he is being transferred to and from with other remand prisoners who have to be dropped at different venues.

Indeed. Though it highlights how seemingly 'bad reporting' or 'vague wording' can leave things open to different interpretations.

My initial thought was. Damned! I know that some of these guys think they are 'high and mighty' but that's taking the mickey a bit.
What next? Requesting a midday finish on Friday and then requesting a day off on Monday (which incidentally has actually been 'cancelled', haha) so 'he' can have a long weekend in Barbados (or similar)?

 

[Alyce]

dbm

 

[Alyce]

15:38
Trial will not sit on Monday, March 2
Her Honour Mrs Justice Yip has told the jury that the trial will not sit on Monday, March 2.

She said: “We are doing relatively well in terms of progress.”

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

So a 3 day week next week as they are also not sitting Friday March 6

 

[jamjim]

I checked the updates on the Lancaster Telegraph and noticed they included a time the defendant was seen on the day Lindsay was found, Thought I'd post as it's a bit more info than we had:

"CCTV footage showing the defendant walking past the cemetery in Whitewell Road towards the side gate of the cemetery is played to the jury from Saturday, August 24 - the day Lindsay Birbeck's body was found.

The defendant is seen entering the cemetery through a side gate at around 1.16pm

More footage shows the defendant walking away from a grassy area away from where Lindsay Birbeck's body was discovered.

"Leaving via a side gate on Whitewell Road towards the direction of his home address", DS Bowler said."

DAY THREE: Lindsay Birbeck trial continues at Preston Crown Court

 

[Ann Blyth]

It’s a mixture Niner. The more important evidence will be direct witness testimony, but some of the smaller stuff can usually be covered by using the statement that the witness gave at the time.

re the defence questioning the statements.... I think, but am not sure, that the Defence will have had prior view of these statements and will have agreed them. If the Defence had any query about them, then I imagine the witness would have to be called to give direct testimony.

Once again, completely correct Alyce, if any statements are not agreed by the Defence prior to trial, then the witness will have to give live evidence so that the defence can cross examine them during the trial, the defence will have seen all the prosecution statements well before trial in order to decide which witnesses they require to give live evidence at trial.

 

[Rosegold68]

anything been mentioned about where this clean recycling bin may have originated from?

 

[Ann Blyth]

Thank you very much Alyce & Ann Blyth! That sounds a lot better than calling all these people up to the stand.
By the way - I had a paperdoll of Ann Blyth!

Wow, fame at last Niner, I was apparently named after a famous movie star by my mum and dad!