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Mary Roberts murder trial: Andrew Ratcliffe guilty | Mary Roberts murder trial: Andrew Ratcliffe guilty |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A "sexually obsessed" man has been found guilty of murdering a 50-year-old woman at a pub in Bury St Edmunds. | A "sexually obsessed" man has been found guilty of murdering a 50-year-old woman at a pub in Bury St Edmunds. |
Mary Roberts was found sexually assaulted and strangled at the rear of the St Edmunds Tavern in March. | Mary Roberts was found sexually assaulted and strangled at the rear of the St Edmunds Tavern in March. |
Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived at Petch Close in the town, has been found guilty of killing her. He will be sentenced on Wednesday. | Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived at Petch Close in the town, has been found guilty of killing her. He will be sentenced on Wednesday. |
The week-long trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard he was arrested with a pair of her knickers in his pocket. | The week-long trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard he was arrested with a pair of her knickers in his pocket. |
The jury heard that Ratcliffe also had a ring belonging to his victim, who had a drink problem. | The jury heard that Ratcliffe also had a ring belonging to his victim, who had a drink problem. |
Ms Roberts, formerly of Long Melford, had been living in the same Petch Close flat as Ratcliffe for two weeks. | Ms Roberts, formerly of Long Melford, had been living in the same Petch Close flat as Ratcliffe for two weeks. |
CCTV evidence | CCTV evidence |
The pair had been out drinking in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday 26 March. | The pair had been out drinking in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday 26 March. |
CCTV images captured them leaving the rear of the St Edmunds Tavern on Risbygate Street just before midnight. | |
Ratcliffe was filmed at the front of the pub at 03:30 GMT before walking through its backyard and on to the bus station car park. | Ratcliffe was filmed at the front of the pub at 03:30 GMT before walking through its backyard and on to the bus station car park. |
Ms Roberts's body was found in the Tavern's covered outdoor smoking area later that morning by the landlady. | Ms Roberts's body was found in the Tavern's covered outdoor smoking area later that morning by the landlady. |
The prosecution argued that Ratcliffe had been sexually obsessed with her, but she had rejected his advances. | The prosecution argued that Ratcliffe had been sexually obsessed with her, but she had rejected his advances. |
The court heard her DNA was found on his fingers, while his DNA was found on her chest. | The court heard her DNA was found on his fingers, while his DNA was found on her chest. |
Ratcliffe denied killing her, claiming in court that he had been talking with Ms Roberts in the smoking area before falling asleep on the ground. | Ratcliffe denied killing her, claiming in court that he had been talking with Ms Roberts in the smoking area before falling asleep on the ground. |
Det Insp Kevin Hayward said: "We are very grateful to members of the public who came forward. | Det Insp Kevin Hayward said: "We are very grateful to members of the public who came forward. |
"This information, together with the forensic evidence that was gathered, helped secure Ratcliffe's conviction. | "This information, together with the forensic evidence that was gathered, helped secure Ratcliffe's conviction. |
"Mary Roberts was a vulnerable woman who sadly died a horrendous death. We hope that the verdict today will go some way to provide some closure for her family and friends." | "Mary Roberts was a vulnerable woman who sadly died a horrendous death. We hope that the verdict today will go some way to provide some closure for her family and friends." |