Jury retires to consider verdict in murder trial

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a woman who was out walking her dog has been sent out to consider its verdict.

Roy Barclay, 56, of no fixed address, denies murdering Anita Rose in Brantham, near Ipswich, last summer.

The 57-year-old mother-of-six was attacked on 24 July 2024 on a footpath near a railway line and died four days later.

At Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Martyn Levett told the jury that "everyone needs to participate in this process" before sending them away to deliberate.

He said they would need to decide if they were sure it was Mr Barclay who attacked Ms Rose and if the assault had caused her death.

During the six-week trial, the court heard how Ms Rose was found with severe injuries on a footpath, which was also next to a sewage works overlooking the River Stour estuary.

She had "laboured breathing" and patches of blood on her face, and was only wearing sports leggings and a black sports bra, despite leaving the house wearing her pink Regatta jacket.

Her dog Bruce, who she walked three times a day, was still by her side, and his lead had been wrapped around her leg.

After being taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries to her head and face, Ms Rose died on 28 July 2024.

Following her death, Suffolk Police launched one of its biggest-ever investigations before arresting a number of people who were later bailed.

Mr Barclay was arrested on 21 October, at Ipswich County Library, and subsequently charged with the murder.

Prosecuting barrister Christopher Paxton KC previously described Mr Barclay as "cunning" and said he "relished" killing Ms Rose.

"He [thought] he had gotten away with it, the untouchable Roy Barclay - or so he thought," Mr Paxton told the court.

Mr Barclay chose not to give evidence during the trial, but his defence barrister Simon Spence KC, told the jury they "can't find him guilty" unless they were certain he was the killer.

"There is no evidence at all of any contact between Roy Barclay and Anita Rose's body… contact there must have been if he was the killer," he said.

"He's innocent unless or until you, the jury, say otherwise."

Jurors were sent out to consider their verdict at about 10:15 BST on Wednesday.

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