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| Mary Roberts murder trial: Andrew Ratcliffe had 'underwear in his pocket' | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man accused of murdering a 50-year-old woman at a Bury St Edmunds pub was arrested with her underwear in his pocket, a court has heard. | A man accused of murdering a 50-year-old woman at a Bury St Edmunds pub was arrested with her underwear in his pocket, a court has heard. |
| Mary Roberts was found at the rear of the St Edmunds Tavern on 27 March. | Mary Roberts was found at the rear of the St Edmunds Tavern on 27 March. |
| Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived at Petch Close in Bury, denies murder at Ipswich Crown Court. | Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived at Petch Close in Bury, denies murder at Ipswich Crown Court. |
| Outlining its case, the prosecution said Mr Ratcliffe was "sexually obsessed" with Mrs Roberts but his feelings were not reciprocated. | Outlining its case, the prosecution said Mr Ratcliffe was "sexually obsessed" with Mrs Roberts but his feelings were not reciprocated. |
| Andrew Jackson, prosecuting counsel, said Mrs Roberts and the defendant were the last customers to leave the Risbygate Street pub just before midnight on Tuesday, 26 March. | Andrew Jackson, prosecuting counsel, said Mrs Roberts and the defendant were the last customers to leave the Risbygate Street pub just before midnight on Tuesday, 26 March. |
| The prosecution said the pair went to the smoking area together and Mr Ratcliffe sexually assaulted and strangled her some time between midnight and 03:30 GMT. | The prosecution said the pair went to the smoking area together and Mr Ratcliffe sexually assaulted and strangled her some time between midnight and 03:30 GMT. |
| Mrs Roberts's body was found by the landlady in the smoking area at the rear of the pub on Wednesday morning. | Mrs Roberts's body was found by the landlady in the smoking area at the rear of the pub on Wednesday morning. |
| DNA evidence | DNA evidence |
| Mr Jackson said CCTV footage, shown to the jury, showed Mr Ratcliffe smoking a cigarette at the front of the pub at 03:30 GMT before returning to the rear and crossing the bus station car park. | Mr Jackson said CCTV footage, shown to the jury, showed Mr Ratcliffe smoking a cigarette at the front of the pub at 03:30 GMT before returning to the rear and crossing the bus station car park. |
| He then phoned an ambulance for himself and the prosecution said the jury would hear a recording of him telling the control room he had been attacked and had a head injury. | He then phoned an ambulance for himself and the prosecution said the jury would hear a recording of him telling the control room he had been attacked and had a head injury. |
| However, the West Suffolk Hospital could find no evidence of a head injury. | However, the West Suffolk Hospital could find no evidence of a head injury. |
| Police arrested him at his home later that day and found a pair of her knickers and her ring in his pocket, the court heard. | Police arrested him at his home later that day and found a pair of her knickers and her ring in his pocket, the court heard. |
| The prosecution said his DNA was found on the clothing she was wearing and her DNA was found in blood on his fingers. | The prosecution said his DNA was found on the clothing she was wearing and her DNA was found in blood on his fingers. |
| Mr Jackson said the defendant told police he had woken up between two picnic tables at the rear of the pub and had not seen the dead woman. | Mr Jackson said the defendant told police he had woken up between two picnic tables at the rear of the pub and had not seen the dead woman. |
| Nigel Roberts, Mary's husband, appeared in the witness box and said she had been a "wonderful woman" who developed a drink problem after an accident smashed her hip. | Nigel Roberts, Mary's husband, appeared in the witness box and said she had been a "wonderful woman" who developed a drink problem after an accident smashed her hip. |
| He said the drink problem had got "worse and worse" and he had left her in December. | He said the drink problem had got "worse and worse" and he had left her in December. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |