GUILTY UK - Lindsay Birbeck, 47, Accrington, 12 Aug 2019 *Arrest* #3

[JosieJo]

He was looking for a female to sexually assault. As opposed to robbery. Previously, I had doubts about whether the defendant could possibly have acted alone. But Zoe Braithwaite's testimony has convinced me that it was him that killed Lindsay. Alone. MOO

I agree its more likely but myself I cant be 100% sure yet as he could have been intending to rob Zoe ...he is unlikely to try and rob men..hopefully there will be evidence to show us his intentions today

 

[Rosegold68]

a 16 year old lad looking for an older woman to sexually assault? i'm not sure.....how much experience of the opposite sex would he have at 16 (his culture doesn't encourage sleeping around does it?)

which still makes me believe theres someone else involved....someone egging him on, taunting him, encouraging....thats the impression i get. also his learning difficulties and general quiet disposition...i'm baffled!

 

[Rosegold68]

a 16 year old lad looking for an older woman to sexually assault? i'm not sure.....how much experience of the opposite sex would he have at 16 (his culture doesn't encourage sleeping around does it?)

which still makes me believe theres someone else involved....someone egging him on, taunting him, encouraging....thats the impression i get. also his learning difficulties and general quiet disposition...i'm baffled!

 

[Kaykedi]

I agree its more likely but myself I cant be 100% sure yet as he could have been intending to rob Zoe ...he is unlikely to try and rob men..hopefully there will be evidence to show us his intentions today

It's just my feeling that it was a sexually motivated crime possibly gone wrong. Do you think his intention was to rob Lindsay? Following his 'failed attempt' to rob Zoe?

 

[JosieJo]

It's just my feeling that it was a sexually motivated crime possibly gone wrong. Do you think his intention was to rob Lindsay? Following his 'failed attempt' to rob Zoe?

I really dont know at the minute to be honest ..its possible..the lack of motive presented by the prosecution as of yet is frustrating

 

[Kaykedi]

a 16 year old lad looking for an older woman to sexually assault? i'm not sure.....how much experience of the opposite sex would he have at 16 (his culture doesn't encourage sleeping around does it?)

which still makes me believe theres someone else involved....someone egging him on, taunting him, encouraging....thats the impression i get. also his learning difficulties and general quiet disposition...i'm baffled!

Yes, a 16 year old male looking to sexually assault a female, of any age. It doesn't mean he was specifically looking for an older female to assault, in my opinion, it's a case of any female, any age group will suffice. Furthermore, I understand that quite a number of young, sexually inexperienced males are interested in an older female in the hopes that she will 'teach him what to do', possibly ready for when he gets a girlfriend? It could well be that, (in his mind), he thought if he approached a female, and, he suggested 'something take place between them' that she would simply agree. But, when she didn't, and screamed out, or, shouted for help, reached for her mobile phone, he panicked

 

[Bampot]

It's very naive to think a 16 year old wouldn't rape an older woman.

 

[Tortoise]

Do you know if it was said somewhere about him wearing a hoodie?

At 6:19 pm, the defendant was observed on CCTV crossing over Burnley Road from the Whitakers Arms side (The Coppice side).

He walked past a house on Burnley Road, Accrington with his hands in his pocket, hood up, zip slightly down and ‘appeared to be bare chested’.

Mr McLachland said the cord from his tracksuit bottoms appeared to be undone and he ‘appeared to have wet knees’.
Found Deceased - UK - Lindsay Birbeck, 47, Accrington, 12 Aug 2019 *Arrest* #2

 

[Kaykedi]

At 6:19 pm, the defendant was observed on CCTV crossing over Burnley Road from the Whitakers Arms side (The Coppice side).

He walked past a house on Burnley Road, Accrington with his hands in his pocket, hood up, zip slightly down and ‘appeared to be bare chested’.

Mr McLachland said the cord from his tracksuit bottoms appeared to be undone and he ‘appeared to have wet knees’.
Found Deceased - UK - Lindsay Birbeck, 47, Accrington, 12 Aug 2019 *Arrest* #2

Thank you very much for this

 

[jamjim]

10:18
Good morning
Hello and welcome to back court 1 at Preston Crown Court.

Today is day six of the Lindsay Birbeck trial and the prosecution are continuing their case this morning.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:37
Delayed start
The trial will have a slightly delayed start because of a separate case in the Judge’s list which has just finished.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:44
Trial is about to start
After a delayed start this morning because of a separate case in the Judge’s list, the Lindsay Birbeck trial is now ready to resume.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:52
'Quite a serious problem with the court building'
The trial judge, Her Honour Mrs Justice Yip, has told the jury that there is ‘quite a serious problem with the court building’.

She said there was a major power cut overnight affecting the water and toilet facilities are not working despite the best efforts of staff.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:55
Trial is continuing - headteacher is first witness
The Judge has said the trial will continue this morning but it will be a shorter day.

The prosecution is now calling their first witness.

It is the headteacher at the defendant’s school.

Because of reporting restrictions in the case, we cannot name the school or the headteacher giving evidence.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:56
Headteacher alerted to CCTV appeal
The headteacher said she was alerted by another staff member on August 28, 2019, of a police CCTV appeal.

After viewing the image she said she was ‘90 per cent sure’ it was the defendant.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

10:58
Defendant's school records handed to police
The headteacher said she collected the defendant’s school records and handed them to police.

She had know the defendant for several years and had also taught him.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

11:02
Defendant was 'very, very quiet'
The headteacher has told the jury: [The defendant] was always somebody who was very, very quiet.

“He would never prompt a conversation with you. You always had to speak to him and you would usually get one or two word answers from him.

“Occasionally he may say a sentence or two if it was a subject that interested him.”

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

11:06
Shake head or say no if not want to do something
Prosecutor David McLachlan QC has asked the headteacher how the defendant would react if he didn’t want to do something.

The headteacher said he would either ‘shake his head or say no’.

She said: “He was very different from other pupils who may use inappropriate language or be aggressive.

“He would very much just say no and that would be it. There was not much of a reaction from him. He would either do it not he wouldn’t.”

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

11:13
'Open to exploitation'
The headteacher is now being cross-examined by defence barrister Mark Fenhalls QC.

She said the defendant had never caused any issues at her school and what has happened to him ‘came as a shock’.

In her statement, she said she had ‘concerns with his vulnerabilities and being open to exploitation’.

She said he ‘could be asked to do something and do something without question’.

The jury were told that the defendant never raised his voice and ‘never caused any bother whatsoever’.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates

 

[jamjim]

11:15
Defendant not value money
The headteacher said the defendant didn’t have any value for money and anything he needed his family would provide for him.

Lindsay Birbeck murder trial at Preston Crown Court - updates