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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Delia Hughes murder trial: Jamie Boult to serve life sentence | Delia Hughes murder trial: Jamie Boult to serve life sentence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man will serve a life sentence after being convicted of murdering a great-grandmother in her Southampton home. | 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. | Boult will serve a minimum of 25 years and was warned by the judge he may never be released. |
| Violent outbursts | Violent outbursts |
| Justice Bean, during sentencing, called it a "shocking case". | |
| He added: "On 18 August last year you walked into the home of an 85-year-old lady, Delia Hughes, and battered her to death with a heavy lump hammer which you had brought to the scene from your home more than two miles away. | |
| "Her death is a terrible loss to her daughter Beryl Catterall and to all her family and friends." | |
| 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 the 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. |