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Alexander Kerry jailed for Norwich murder of Pauline King | Alexander Kerry jailed for Norwich murder of Pauline King |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man whose father strangled his mother when he was a child has been jailed for life for battering an 82-year-old woman to death in a "gruesome" attack. | |
Pauline King, described by police as a "reclusive hermit", was found at her home in Norwich on 22 February. | |
Alexander Kerry, 23, of Kinghorn Road, Norwich, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after he entered a guilty plea. | Alexander Kerry, 23, of Kinghorn Road, Norwich, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after he entered a guilty plea. |
Mr Justice Stuart-Smith ordered that Kerry serve at least 25 and a half years of the life sentence. | |
Ms King died as a result of a sustained assault with a knife and hammer during a burglary at her home in The Avenues, where she lived alone, the court was told. | |
Kerry was found later the same day wandering nearby streets covered in blood. | Kerry was found later the same day wandering nearby streets covered in blood. |
Det Sup Paul Durham described it as a "vile murder" which "sent a shudder of fear" through the community. | Det Sup Paul Durham described it as a "vile murder" which "sent a shudder of fear" through the community. |
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said Kerry, desperate for money after drinking in a Norwich city centre pub, had broken into the home and beat Ms King to death. | Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said Kerry, desperate for money after drinking in a Norwich city centre pub, had broken into the home and beat Ms King to death. |
He then tried to set fire to the house to destroy the evidence, he said. | He then tried to set fire to the house to destroy the evidence, he said. |
Forensic examinations found Miss King suffered 80 separate injuries, including 27 to her head and face. | |
Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said he acted with "animal brutality" to murder Miss King and sexually abuse her dying body in an "act of desecration". | Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said he acted with "animal brutality" to murder Miss King and sexually abuse her dying body in an "act of desecration". |
"This wasn't your first experience of violent death because when you were 10 years old your father murdered your mother while you slept in the house," he said. | |
"Although it was thought at the time you coped well with that tragedy, it is quite clear that it remained with you and affected you ever since. | |
"But nothing begins to explain what you did to Pauline King on that night. | |
"She was a poor, elderly, defenceless and no doubt terrified lady who had done nothing except have the misfortune to be burgled by you." | |
Kerry had a criminal record including violence and disorderly behaviour dating back to his teens, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said. | |
He had recently been released from a psychiatric unit. | |
Jonathan Goodman, mitigating, said his client had "self-medicated" through alcohol and drugs following the almost "unimaginable" events of his childhood. | Jonathan Goodman, mitigating, said his client had "self-medicated" through alcohol and drugs following the almost "unimaginable" events of his childhood. |
His father Scott Kerry, then 35, was found guilty of murder and jailed for life in December 2002 after a jury heard he strangled his wife Heather Kerry, 33, to death in May that year. | |
Kerry denied a charge of sexual assault and the prosecution chose not to proceed on that count. |