This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-23102543
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Delia Hughes murder trial: Jamie Boult to serve life sentence | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man will serve a life sentence after being convicted of murdering a great-grandmother in her Southampton home. | |
| Delia Hughes, 85, was beaten to death in her flat, in Ocean Village, on 18 August last year. | Delia Hughes, 85, was beaten to death in her flat, in Ocean Village, on 18 August last year. |
| Jamie Boult, 25, of Chessel Crescent, Southampton, admitted killing Mrs Hughes but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Jamie Boult, 25, of Chessel Crescent, Southampton, admitted killing Mrs Hughes but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| His trial at Winchester Crown Court had heard he was suffering from the symptoms of a personality disorder. | His trial at Winchester Crown Court had heard he was suffering from the symptoms of a personality disorder. |
| Boult will serve a minimum of 25 years and was warned by the judge he may never be released. | |
| Violent outbursts | Violent outbursts |
| Jurors were told he entered her ground-floor flat through open patio doors and lay in wait in her bedroom. He then struck her at least eight times with a lump hammer and stole her jewellery. | Jurors were told he entered her ground-floor flat through open patio doors and lay in wait in her bedroom. He then struck her at least eight times with a lump hammer and stole her jewellery. |
| The court heard medical evidence that Boult seemed to have been severely depressed, self-harming, had mood swings and was prone to violent outbursts. | The court heard medical evidence that Boult seemed to have been severely depressed, self-harming, had mood swings and was prone to violent outbursts. |
| Jurors also heard he had been having difficulties in his relationship with his mother, who he lived with in Bitterne. | Jurors also heard he had been having difficulties in his relationship with his mother, who he lived with in Bitterne. |
| Boult was arrested on 16 September after he smashed the window of a police car at Bitterne police station and began cutting his arms with scissors. | Boult was arrested on 16 September after he smashed the window of a police car at Bitterne police station and began cutting his arms with scissors. |
| Mrs Hughes, who was widowed in 1993, had been trying to sell the Ocean Village flat to move in with her daughter. | Mrs Hughes, who was widowed in 1993, had been trying to sell the Ocean Village flat to move in with her daughter. |
| Boult was also found guilty of an aggravated burglary at his neighbours' home. | Boult was also found guilty of an aggravated burglary at his neighbours' home. |
| He went into the property in Bitterne armed with an axe on 14 August last year, four days before Mrs Hughes was killed. | He went into the property in Bitterne armed with an axe on 14 August last year, four days before Mrs Hughes was killed. |
| The couple who own the flat were out at the time of the break-in. | The couple who own the flat were out at the time of the break-in. |
| When the owners returned home they discovered the gas had been turned on their cooker, their TV had been overturned and a wine bottle and beer cans were on the floor. | When the owners returned home they discovered the gas had been turned on their cooker, their TV had been overturned and a wine bottle and beer cans were on the floor. |
| Various items had been stolen including a guitar, sunglasses and a sports jacket. They also discovered a knife from their kitchen on their bed. | Various items had been stolen including a guitar, sunglasses and a sports jacket. They also discovered a knife from their kitchen on their bed. |
| Boult was armed with an axe when he entered the flat which he told police he would be prepared to use if anyone was inside. | Boult was armed with an axe when he entered the flat which he told police he would be prepared to use if anyone was inside. |