A primary school teacher accused of stabbing her boyfriend and burying him in their garden wrote a journal entry saying moving a body is “much more difficult than it looks on TV”, a court heard.
Year 6 teacher Fiona Beal, 50, admits killing her 42-year-old boyfriend Nicholas Billingham, whose partly mummified remains were discovered four-and-a-half months after he was last seen. A jury at the Old Bailey heard yesterday that Beal pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter by reason of a loss of control – but denies that she murdered Mr Billingham in 2021.
Opening the case, prosecutor Hugh Davies KC said: “There is no dispute that she killed Nick Billingham, concealed his body where it was found and acted alone throughout. There is no dispute that she intended to kill him. She has accepted that she is guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter. She has pleaded guilty to that offence. She does not accept she is guilty of murder.”
She was arrested in March 2022 after police discovered Mr Billingham’s body concealed in a “de facto coffin” made of breeze blocks, timber and sheets in the garden of their Northampton home, the court heard.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin April 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin April 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Sensational Saints deny Farrell Twickenham finale
The Saracens empire is at an end; the Saints go marching on. On a raucous night in Northampton where Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens rocked with an intensity and fervour seldom sighted in English club rugby, the hosts denied Owen Farrell a last tango at Twickenham with a performance that showcased their champion qualities.
France comeback stuns England in Euro qualifier
Marie-Antoinette Katoto left defending champions England with a mountain to climb as France came from behind to snatch a priceless Euro 2025 qualifier victory at St James’ Park.
Dortmund battle weight of history in end-of-era final
Champions League kings Madrid face unfancied Germans
We don't have to splash the cash to fix our water crisis
The nation's supply is a pressing issue - but there may be an alternative to costly nationalisation
American voters will deliver the final verdict on Trump
With unanimous \"guilty\" verdicts handed down by the New York jury on all 34 charges against him, Donald Trump becomes the first former US president to have a criminal conviction.
Heatstroke kills at least 18 as parts of India hit 50C
At least 18 people have died from heatstroke as India continues to reel from the most intense heatwave ever with temperatures suspected to have crossed 50C.
Houthis claim missile attack launched on US air carrier
Yemen's Houthis claim to have launched an attack on a US air carrier in response to earlier British and American strikes on its military bases.
'Every drone that hits them is payback for killing Oleh'
Askold Krushelnycky visits the concealed base of the 'Barney Unit' in eastern Ukraine - created by Stepan Barna following the death on the front line of his older brother in April 2023
Police appeal for help in finding gunman after girl, 9, is left fighting for her life
Police investigating a shooting at an east London restaurant that left a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life have issued an update.
NHS bed shortage sees sick children denied critical care
Paediatric ICUs at crisis point as Tories accused of 'neglect'