UK - Nicholas Billingham, 42, body found buried in garden, Northampton, Mar 2022 *arrest*

[AcbMurders]

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/crime/retrial-of-northampton-primary-school-teacher-fiona-beal-begins-at-the-old-bailey-this-week-4594433

This retrial is now being held at the Old Bailey and opening statements will begin on Friday, April 19.
The hearing is scheduled to last between six and eight weeks with an expected conclusion in late May-early June.

 

[Alyce]

The Crown Court
at Central Criminal Court

Daily Courtroom List for Friday 19 April 2024​

FINAL 1 Court 5 - sitting at 10:00 am THE RECORDER OF LONDON​ Trial (Part Heard) T20237268 BEAL Fiona 34NA0228622 NORTM CPS DTA, Order made under Contempt of Court Act 1981 www.courtserve.net​

 

[Alyce]

Can't find any media reports

	Central Criminal Court​	5​	T20237268​	fiona beal​
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:08 Trial (Part Heard) - Jury Sworn In - 11:32 Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 11:45

www.thelawpages.com

 

[Parker Knoll]

I can’t understand why this is being started on a Friday afternoon ?

 

[Alyce]

I can’t understand why this is being started on a Friday afternoon ?

Can only guess that it's because this trial has had so many delays.
Plus, as we know, Judge Lucraft will be back with C & M next Wednesday, so perhaps felt he could use these in between days to get some progress on this one.

 

[Becky53]

A primary school teacher has admitted killing her partner whose tied up body was found buried in the garden.

The remains of Nicholas Billingham, 42, were found at a home in Moore Street, Northampton in March 2022, four and a half months after he was last seen.

Northampton teacher admits manslaughter of man found in garden

Fiona Beal denies murder but admits the manslaughter of Nicholas Billingham.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Prosecution KC Hugh Davies

Hugh Davies OBE KC - Three Raymond Buildings - Barristers' Chambers

Hugh Davies KC has achieved national recognition in the practice areas of crime; professional discipline; inquests and public inquiries.

3rblaw.com

 

[bobbymkii]

Didn't follow this trial much first time around. So I'm pretty much starting from the beginning.

Wow. This is one seriously calculating woman!

 

[Skigh]

Teacher lured her cheating boyfriend to bed for sex then stabbed him

Fiona Beal, 50, admitted to killing her 42-year-old boyfriend Nicholas Billingham, whose partly mummified remains were discovered four-and-a-half months after he was last seen.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[bobbymkii]

What stage were they at when the first trial collapsed?

 

[AcbMurders]

What stage were they at when the first trial collapsed?

it went on for 3 months but there were lots of breaks

 

[bobbymkii]

it went on for 3 months but there were lots of breaks

had she finished giving her evidence? had her defence rested by the time the plug was pulled?

 

[AcbMurders]

had she finished giving her evidence? had her defence rested by the time the plug was pulled?

From memory, she had finished and there there were endless psychologists etc who gave evidence too.

Worth going back a few pages on this thread and read up the posts from from a year ago, as we put links to all the relevant news articles, when the first trial was taking place

 

[crespo29]

Didn't follow this trial much first time around. So I'm pretty much starting from the beginning.

Wow. This is one seriously calculating woman!

There is a podcast called Fiona Beal, Nicholas Billingham, the background to the 2024 trial. It was posted about a month ago.

 

[Alyce]

Looks like the usual lack of reporting. Can only find the Law Pages listing.

https://www.thelawpages.com/magistrates-county-crown-court/Central-Criminal-Court-14.html

 

[Alyce]

A primary school teacher stabbed her cheating boyfriend in the neck in a 'chilling domestic execution'...

Mr Davies said:

'She was thinking about what time was best to do it, whether he would be snoring, but she knew or visualised it would be by stabbing him ''left to right, down slight right''.
And that's what she did - she stabbed him in his jugular vein in his neck

She murdered him in their bedroom late on 1 November. The clean-up started as early as 01.07am on 2 November.

she bought multiple cleaning products, ultra heavy duty bin bags, a new mattress, bedding, clothing, wall art and mirrors.

'This is considered, controlled, conduct that is on the one hand intrinsically practical, and on the other indulgent.

'It is the more so given she must literally have watched her partner bleed to death in front of her.

'The way he was wrapped, with cables, hosepipes and plastic bags, building detritus, afforded him no dignity in death. It shows utter contempt. She cannot have forgotten this.

'She now claims to have forgotten most of the month of November 2021- the prosecution invites you to reject that claim. It is another instrumental lie designed to avoid conviction for murder.'





more detail at link ..........

Teacher stabbed her boyfriend in neck in 'chilling domestic execution'

Fiona Beal, 50, lured builder Nick Billingham into the bedroom for sex then knifed him in the neck when he was tied to the bed on November 1, 2021, the Old Bailey was told.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

In his opening speech to the jury, defence barrister Andrew Wheeler, KC, said: 'This case is not as straightforward as the prosecution suggest.
Fiona Beal is a lady of good character, a partner to Nick Billingham for 17 years, a hardworking and throughly liked schoolteacher.

'What this case is really about is her state of mind at the time she carried out the act.
What caused that dramatic change, what was the catalyst that led to these very tragic circumstances?

'You will hear evidence Ms Beal suffered from mental health issues but also on top of that she was in a coercive and controlling relationship with Mr Billingham.

'He was physically domineering and over the years he wore her down until she was quite literally broken.

'You will also hear that Ms Beal was unable to recall any details about what happened.

'Loss of control can provide a partial defence to murder and in this case we will be suggesting that Ms Beal's loss of control arose from events relating to the ongoing conduct of and treatment of her by Mr Billingham.




more detail at link........

Teacher stabbed her boyfriend in neck in 'chilling domestic execution'

Fiona Beal, 50, lured builder Nick Billingham into the bedroom for sex then knifed him in the neck when he was tied to the bed on November 1, 2021, the Old Bailey was told.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Andrew Wheeler KC Defence Counsel

Andrew Wheeler KC - Barrister - 7BR Barristers Chambers

Andrew Wheeler KC has extensive experience in relation to the defence and prosecution of serious fraud, associated money laundering and proceeds of crime.

www.7br.co.uk

 

[AcbMurders]

Teacher 'stabbed cheating boyfriend in the neck in chilling domestic execution'

Fiona Beal, from Northampton, appeared in court accused of the murder of her builder boyfriend Nick Billingham - she is said to have dumped his body in a makeshift grave

www.mirror.co.uk

"There is no evidence she ever did a PCR test. Her actions in the next 10 days are wholly inconsistent with having the exhausting effects of Covid which she was claiming to be experiencing. She murdered him in their bedroom late on November 1. The clean-up started as early as 01.07am on November 2. Using her dead partner's account, and then hers on Amazon, she bought multiple cleaning products, including for Venetian blinds, a new mop and bucket, ultra heavy duty bin bags, a new mattress, bedding, clothing, wall art and mirrors.

"It is the more so given she must literally have watched her partner bleed to death in front of her. Later that same day she changes a Tesco order, itself already containing multiple cleaning products, to add three rolls of duct tape. At 2.19pm she purchased heavy duty long gardening gloves, a stainless steel digging spade and a galvanised incinerator bin garden leaves wood burner. To state the obvious, this was not for burning leaves."

 

[Skigh]

Teacher 'stabbed cheating boyfriend in the neck in chilling domestic execution'

Fiona Beal, from Northampton, appeared in court accused of the murder of her builder boyfriend Nick Billingham - she is said to have dumped his body in a makeshift grave

www.mirror.co.uk

"There is no evidence she ever did a PCR test. Her actions in the next 10 days are wholly inconsistent with having the exhausting effects of Covid which she was claiming to be experiencing. She murdered him in their bedroom late on November 1. The clean-up started as early as 01.07am on November 2. Using her dead partner's account, and then hers on Amazon, she bought multiple cleaning products, including for Venetian blinds, a new mop and bucket, ultra heavy duty bin bags, a new mattress, bedding, clothing, wall art and mirrors.

"It is the more so given she must literally have watched her partner bleed to death in front of her. Later that same day she changes a Tesco order, itself already containing multiple cleaning products, to add three rolls of duct tape. At 2.19pm she purchased heavy duty long gardening gloves, a stainless steel digging spade and a galvanised incinerator bin garden leaves wood burner. To state the obvious, this was not for burning leaves."

Just thinking about what she had to clean up makes me feel exhausted!! Takes me enough time to do a quick dust and hoover.