Court Neighbour heard scream on night of murder

A WOMAN was heard screaming on the night a mother-of-two was allegedly raped and murdered in her Bristol home almost 60 years ago, a jury heard.

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Louisa Dunne, 75, who had been twice widowed and lived alone, was found dead in her front room in Britannia Road, Easton, by neighbours on the morning of June 28 in 1967.

Police launched an investigation, including taking palm prints from thousands of local boys and men, but could not identify Mrs Dunne’s killer.

They eventually boxed up evidence from the scene and a DNA match was allegedly made last year to a man called Ryland Headley, now 92, who is now on trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Headley, of Ipswich, Suffolk, denies charges of rape and murder.

Yesterday, Anna Vigars KC and Ramin Pakrooh read statements to the jury of eight men and four women that were taken by police at the time of Mrs Dunne’s death.

Violet Fortune, a married woman who lived close to Mrs Dunne's two-bedroom terraced house, said her family had gone to bed on the evening of June 27.

"I was awoken suddenly by what sounded like a scream," Mrs Fortune said.

"It wasn't a long, piercing scream, but a crying out. It sounded muffled. I got out of bed and went to the window. I could see up and down the road by the light of the moon but there was no-one in sight.

"I stood at the window for about a minute then got back into bed. I had been back in bed for two minutes when I heard someone cry out.

"I could distinguish it was the voice of a woman. It lasted for about two to three seconds."