GUILTY UK - Sir Richard Sutton, 83, murdered, Anne Schreiber, 65, wounded, Dorset, 7 Apr 2021

[Alyce]

Thomas Schreiber, 34, appeared at Winchester Crown Court earlier and has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Mr Schreiber is also accused of driving a Range Rover dangerously.

The court heard a provisional trial date had been set for 25 October

and a plea hearing will take place on 5 July.

Judge Morris said the defendant will remain in custody ahead of the future hearings.




Sir Richard Sutton: Trial date set for murder accused

 

[Tortoise]

Schreiber appeared in the dock wearing a grey jumper, a thick bandage around his right hand and spoke only to confirm his identity.

The court was also told Schreiber, [...] is paying privately for his legal costs.

Prosecutor Adam Feest QC said: 'There's quite a lot of forensic investigation at the scene. The scene has been looked at and now the scientists need to go through it - there's a lot to be looked at.'

Abdullah Al-Yunusi, defending, did not ask for bail but asked for policy body-worn camera footage - filmed during investigations at the house - to be sent to him.

[...]

The defendant faces a third count of dangerous driving on the A303 and M3 in relation to the night of the alleged attack.

Son of Sir Richard Sutton's partner, 34, faces three-week murder trial | Daily Mail Online

 

[Tortoise]

Thomas Schreiber, 34, appeared at Winchester Crown Court earlier and has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Mr Schreiber is also accused of driving a Range Rover dangerously.

The court heard a provisional trial date had been set for 25 October

and a plea hearing will take place on 5 July.

Judge Morris said the defendant will remain in custody ahead of the future hearings.




Sir Richard Sutton: Trial date set for murder accused

Just looking for updates on this case - it seems the plea hearing didn't go ahead on 5th July. I also haven't been able to find any updates on his mother's condition, hopefully she is making a good recovery.


The only hearing I can find in the court search is the one that happened at Winchester on 13th April.

Just putting this here to note the custody time limit and length of trial -


“You will be expected to attend this court on July 5. You will be produced at this court on July 5 for the purposes of that hearing.

“There is now a trial date set, it is October 25 this year. You will remain in custody in the meantime.

“The custody time limit has been fixed for December this year.”

Adam Feest appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Abdullah Al-Yunusi represented Schreiber.

Mr Feest told the court that the trial was expected to last between two and three weeks.

Trial date set for man accused of murdering millionaire hotelier Sir Richard Sutton

 

[Skigh]

Sir Richard Sutton’s stepson denies murdering millionaire hotelier

 

[Alyce]

During the plea hearing, prosecutor Adam Feest QC revealed that Mrs Schreiber - who was left in a critical condition in hospital - has recovered from her injuries enough to provide investigators with a DNA sample.
However, Mr Feest QC added: “We are very mindful of Mrs Schreiber's condition.”

Mr Feest QC also told the court there was still a substantial amount of forensic evidence still being worked on.

Her Honour Judge Angela Morris, adjourned the case until a provisional further case management hearing on October 8.

A provisional trial date has already been set for November 29.

Judge Morris said: "Mr Schreiber, your trial date remains the same but there's still quite a lot of work that has got to be done.


Sir Richard Sutton's stepson appears in court charged with his murder

 

[Ched]

Stepson, 34, admits killing one of UK's richest men but faces murder trial
He spoke to confirm his name and then pleaded 'not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter' of the tycoon.

He had previously entered a plea of not guilty to murder but today altered his plea to admit he had killed Sir Richard.


Schreiber then reaffirmed his previous plea of not guilty to the attempted murder of his mother.

He also changed a previous plea of not guilty to dangerous driving and admitted this charge, relating to driving a Range Rover on motorways in the south of England on the night of the killing.

 

[Tortoise]

Winchester 4 T20217037
Thomas Schreiber
Details: For Trial - Case Started - 12:24

https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Winchester-Crown-Court.php

 

[Tortoise]

• 
  - Thomas Schreiber, 35 and of Gillingham, Dorset, is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court
• - He is accused of murdering millionaire and hotelier Sir Richard Sutton and the attempted murder of Anne Schreiber on April 7.
• - Today is due to be the first day of the trial.
• - The trial is being presided over by the Honourable Mr Justice Garnham.
• - Schreiber denies murder and attempted murder.

12:38pm

For a brief summary on the background to the case, you can read our preview to the trial on the link below:

• Trial of man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire due to start today

12:59pm

The jurors have taken their seats in court, spread around more than pre-pandemic, to follow social distancing.


1:00pm

The Honourable Mr Justice Garnham is now addressing the jury on a summary of the trial they will be sitting on, including the allegations.


1:02pm

Adam Feest QC, prosecuting, is now addressing jurors with names of people involved in the case.


LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

missed a few updates from earlier -

12:30pm

Good afternoon, we are at Winchester Crown Court this afternoon and will be providing updates from the first day of the trial of Thomas Schreiber, who is accused of the murder of Sir Richard Sutton.

Schreiber, 35 and of Gillingham, Dorset, is also accused of the attempted murder of his mother Anne Schreiber.

He denies both murder and attempted murder.


12:31pm

The Honourable Mr Justice Garnham and the jury empanelment process has started.


12:32pm

Due to the number of people in court today, all members of the press are reporting from the public gallery, which is on an upper level at the back of the court room, rather than the press bench.


12:33pm

The defendant cannot be seen from where we are but he has completed the formal identification process with the court clerk before jury selection started.


LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

1:15pm

Mr Feest QC continues to read through names for jurors following a short delay.


1:17pm

The prosecutor is now talking jurors through a family tree, which is on a screen in front of them. We do not have sight of this from the public gallery.


LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

1:24pm

The jury has now been sworn in.

The clerk has read the summary of the two-count indictment - the formal charges - to the jurors.

It is confirmed Thomas Schreiber denies the murder of Sir Richard Sutton and the attempted murder of Anne Schreiber.

1:25pm

The judge outlines the Covid measures in place in the court building and asks jurors to comply with instructions from court staff.


1:27pm

Addressing the jury, the Honourable Mr Justice Garnham outlines "critical" points of their role which jurors must follow.


1:30pm

The case is estimated to last three, possibly four, weeks, the judge says.


1:35pm

Jurors are told they will be given iPads to use throughout the trial to access some of the evidence in the case.

1:36pm

The judge has finished running through administrative details and information about the role of the jury.

The court will now break for lunch, with jurors not expected back until 3pm.



LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

3:13pm

We are back high up in the public gallery in court four at Winchester Crown Court.

The jury are expected back in shortly.

3:29pm

The public gallery has been cleared for a short period. We will be back with updates when the case is called back on.



LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

4:02pm

And we are back in court, the jury are in place, as is the judge and we are expecting prosecutor Adam Feest QC to open the case.


4:03pm

We will be using AF as a short form for Mr Feest QC while he delivers his opening.

4:06pm

AF says it is for the prosecution to prove the case and make the jury sure the Thomas Schreiber is guilty or murdering Sir Richard Sutton and/or the attempted murder of Anne Schreiber if they are to return guilty verdicts.


4:07pm

AF: Shortly before 9pm on April 7 an armed police team smashed their way into the rear conservatory of the home of Sir Richard Sutton following multiple 999 calls.


4:08pm

AF: There had been a ferocious and sustained attack, the crown say by this defendant. Anne Schreiber was left barely concious, stabbed wounds to her front, multiple stab wounds to her back numbering into double figures.



LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

4:09pm

The prosecutor says the quick actions of police along with the work of other emergency services were essential in Ms Schreiber surviving, although with life-changing injuries.


4:10pm

AF: Police found Sir Richard's motionless bloodied body. He had suffered five stab wounds to an area just under his left armpit.


4:11pm

AF: The two lower wounds were deep enough to go through the rib cage, puncture the lung, one had punctured the main blood vessel leading away from the heart and the other punctured the heart itself.


4:11pm

AF: Sir Richard had defensive wounds to his hands. Significant slashing and cutting wounds to his face.

4:12pm

AF: His blood was found in trails and in spots in the kitchen, the study and the hallway, which we are going to call the pantry.


4:13pm

There is no doubt in this case it was the defendant that killed Sir Richard and seriously injured his mother, says Mr Feest QC.


LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

4:14pm

AF: He escaped from the house in a Range Rover. I knife which had Sir Richard's blood on was found in a sink in the annex where Thomas Schreiber lived. Another knife with Anne Schreiber's blood was found.


4:15pm

AF: The defendant felt injustices which led him to repeatedly think of revenge on his what he considered "toxic" and "gold-digging" mother and Sir Richard.


4:16pm

AF: Whatever it was that started the incident, the defendant has clearly attacked Sir Richard and his mother with a knife in the kitchen.


4:16pm

AF: His (the defendant's) intention was to kill her (Anne Schreiber).


4:17pm

AF: There was a lull in the incident between the initial attack and the fatal episode on the landing.


4:18pm

AF: This, the prosecution would say, is a clear case of murder.


4:19pm

Mr Feest QC will resume his opening tomorrow morning.

The Honourable Mr Justice Garnham tells jurors the opening of the case will continue at 10am on Tuesday, November 30.


LIVE: Trial set to begin over man accused of murdering Dorset millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

The jury were told: "In the months preceding, [Schreiber] had been harbouring increasingly strong feelings of resentment and hatred."

Mr Feest said the defendant had been "feeling isolated and unfairly treated", having been forced to live at Moorhill due to the pandemic.

He said he had told a friend that he "couldn't stand and didn't have a good word to say" about Sir Richard.

Another message from Schreiber said "my mind is consumed with hatred of the worst kind... I contemplate murdering them ... I want them to suffer," the jury was told.

Sir Richard Sutton: Millionaire died in 'ferocious' stabbing attack

 

[Tortoise]

The month before the attacks, Schreiber wrote to a friend: “I’m so sad to report that my mind is consumed with hatred of the very worst kind towards my family. They really hurt me, betrayed me and destroyed all trust. Simply put, I contemplate murdering them all morning, day and night. It’s not what I want to think about but it’s the truth. I want them to suffer.”

[...]
Adam Feest QC, prosecuting, said there was no dispute that Schreiber killed Sutton and badly injured his mother, but said the jury would have to consider his state of mind.

The court was told that after the attack, Schreiber allegedly went to his part of the property, an annexe above a garage, changed some of his clothing, collected personal items and escaped in a Range Rover. He was arrested a few hours later in London after a police chase and a “hard stop” manoeuvre.

He had left a kitchen knife with Sutton’s blood on it in an upstairs kitchen sink. Another knife with his mother’s blood on it was found under the kitchen table downstairs.

Partner’s son killed hotelier Richard Sutton in act of revenge, court told

 

[Tortoise]

Winchester 4 T20217037
Thomas Schreiber
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:54
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 12:02


https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Winchester-Crown-Court.php

 

[Tortoise]

11:58am

Good morning, we are back at Winchester Crown Court today for the second day of the trial of Thomas Schreiber.

The 35-year-old is accused of murdering Sir Richard Sutton and attempting to murder Anne Schreiber at their home, Moorhill, in Higher Langham, near Gillingham, on April 7.

Thomas Schreiber denies both charges.


11:59am

Prosecutor Adam Feest QC started the prosecution's opening yesterday afternoon and is expected to continue today.

The judge and counsel are in court and the jury are due back in shortly.


12:03pm

Adam Feest QC is on his feet and he is about to resume the opening of the prosecution's case.


12:04pm

Mr Feest QC said he will be talking through some more of the detail and background to the case.


12:05pm

This was a scene which had a lot of blood around the scene, says Mr Feest QC.


12:06pm

Computer generated mannequin images will be shown to the jury to show the injuries Anne Schreiber and Sir Richard Sutton suffered.

LIVE: Prosecution opening continues in murder trial over death of millionaire

 

[Tortoise]

I'm not a fan of using mannequin images in trials but it seems to be accepted in our courts now. I prefer the American way of showing actual photographic images to the jury, despite being gory it is the actual real evidence.