logo
Susan Poole killed Shipley man David Hart, 92, court told

Susan Poole killed Shipley man David Hart, 92, court told

BBC News06-05-2025

Man, 92, killed by wife in back garden, jury told
Just now
Share
Save
David Spereall
BBC News, Yorkshire
Share
Save
Google
Bradford Crown Court was told Susan Poole was deemed medically unfit to stand trial
A 92-year-old man was attacked and killed in his back garden by his wife, before his body was doused in fuel and set alight, a jury has been told.
Susan Poole, 53, is alleged to have murdered David Hart at the home the couple shared with their adult son in Bradford on 16 April last year, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Ms Poole was deemed unfit to plead or stand trial for the offence on the advice of two medical professionals.
Instead, a trial of the facts started on Tuesday, with the jury asked to determine if she committed the act she is accused of, rather than deeming whether or not she is criminally guilty.
Opening the case, prosecutor Michelle Colborne KC said Mr Hart was heard screaming for help by neighbours on the afternoon he died, at his address on Shetland Close in Shipley.
His body was then seen on the ground in a "pool of blood" through a garden fence by his next door neighbours, one of whom then saw the defendant setting Mr Hart's body alight as she ignored pleas for attention.
Body-worn camera footage played to the jury showed police forcing entry to the back garden shortly afterwards, where Ms Poole was seen dousing herself in fuel in an outbuilding before being restrained.
'Door barricaded with canned food'
Upon her arrest, the defendant made repeated references to "Jesus" and asked for her Bible, it was said.
The front door to the house had been barricaded with canned food, the court heard.
CCTV clips played to the jury from earlier the same afternoon showed Ms Poole chopping down a cherry tree in the garden, at one point assisted by her husband.
In a later clip, she was then seen brandishing a tree root picker in the direction of Mr Hart in what the prosecution described as an "aggressive" manner, before they both disappeared from view.
The jury was told the root picker is believed to be the weapon used to inflict fatal head injuries on the victim.
He is thought to have died from these injuries before his body was set alight.
Diary entries read to the court, believed to have been written by Mr Hart on the day he died, described how he and his son were locked in the house and unable to get into the garden "because we might get Covid".
The same entry added: "Sue says Jesus has spoken to her and it's OK to open the windows, and he is protecting her personally."
The couple's son, who was led from the house by police after the incident, was not involved in the attack and is not accused of any offences, Ms Colborne said.
The trial continues.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ballymena riots latest: Fire started 'after vandalism' at leisure centre as disorder breaks out for third night in row in N Ireland
Ballymena riots latest: Fire started 'after vandalism' at leisure centre as disorder breaks out for third night in row in N Ireland

Sky News

time43 minutes ago

  • Sky News

Ballymena riots latest: Fire started 'after vandalism' at leisure centre as disorder breaks out for third night in row in N Ireland

21:47:04 Leisure centre on fire 'temporarily housed people from Ballymena' Reports in Ireland suggest the leisure centre said to be targeted by vandals tonight - see 20.59 - may have housed people moved from Ballymena, though this has not been verified. DUP politician Gordon Lyons posted on Facebook earlier today "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Lesiure Centre... following disturbances in Ballymena". "It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne," he added. "Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful." The Irish Independent said it is understood there is nobody currently inside the Leisure Centre. 21:14:01 'Force will be used against violent individuals', police warn crowd In Ballymena, police have gathered to deter any rioters planing disorder for a third night in a row. Our team is there now, where a crowd has been told to move away. A warning played via speakers tells them they should be "dispersed immediately". It then warns "force will be used against violent individuals". 20:59:56 Fire breaks out in town east of Ballymena A fire has reportedly broken out at a leisure centre in another town in the same county as Ballymena. Footage on social media shows masked individuals smashing windows and setting fires outside in Larne. The map below shows where Larne is, about 20 miles east of Ballymena in County Antrim. Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said the leisure centre "has been attacked by masked thugs". "Windows smashed and fires lit nearby," he posted on social media. "Larne does not need this." 20:59:01 In pictures: Police brace for further rioting More pictures now from the scene in Ballymena, where police are preparing for another night of rioting. 20:46:01 Entire rows of houses displaying 'locals live here' signs We've already brought you reports of residents in Ballymena displaying signs in their windows about their nationality - in an attempt to avoid rioters targeting their homes. Now, our team on the ground bring us pictures of entire rows of homes displaying signs. Our correspondent Connor Gillies explains that these signs look organised, as they are all of the same design, printed on yellow paper with black lettering in caps saying "Locals live here". Some homes with the signs in their windows also have the Northern Irish flag or the Union flag, too. 20:30:01 More police arrive with shields and helmets We reported in the post below that the police presence in Ballymena is growing. The picture below, from the last few minutes, gives you an idea of the units now taking formation. Several vans have arrived, blocking off a street as more officers line up equipped with riot gear. 20:16:48 Significant police presence in Ballymena A brief update from Connor Gillies, our reporter on the ground in Northern Ireland. He says he's just arrived in Ballymena for the evening, where there is a significant police presence. We'll bring you more updates as we get them. 20:09:01 'I deplore the thuggery' More political reaction now, with former SDLP leader Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick reacting to the violence. She said earlier: "I deplore the thuggery and the racist violence in Ballymena over the last two days, where there were attacks on the police service of Northern Ireland and on ethnic minorities." Violence condemned 'unequivocally' DUP peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme added: "Can I join with others in commending the efforts and the bravery of the police and the other emergency services in dealing [with the] situation of the last 48 hours, and also unreservedly and unequivocally condemn the violence that has taken place in Ballymena. "Whatever the underlying issues that are there in Ballymena, nothing can ever justify the thuggery that is being perpetrated there." 19:45:01 Aftermath of 'ugly' night of 'racially motivated' violence - and how it all began Police say the violence this week in Ballymena is "clearly racially motivated". Connor Gillies explains it all began with a vigil for a teenage girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. Two teenage boys, from Romania, have appeared in court connected to that investigation. Officers say the vigil was hijacked by a planned anti-immigration mob. Watch below as Gillies runs through the origins of the riots, and looks at the homes devastated by violence.

Mortar discovered at scene of fatal Sandhurst property fire
Mortar discovered at scene of fatal Sandhurst property fire

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Mortar discovered at scene of fatal Sandhurst property fire

Decommissioned mortar and flammable chemicals have been found at the scene of a fire where a man died. A man in his 80s was airlifted to hospital with what proved to be fatal injuries after the blaze at a property on Oak Avenue in Sandhurst, Berkshire, on Friday. Police and fire crews remained at the scene to carry out investigations and discovered the mortar - which a specialist team has now safely destroyed - during a search of the site on Tuesday. The force, which said it was also working on removing the chemicals, said the death was being investigated as unexplained but was not believed to be suspicious. Det Supt Andrew Penrith, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This was a sad incident and our thoughts are with the family of the man who died." 'Priority is safety' He added: "Yesterday during searches of the property as part of the investigation officers found what was thought to be a decommissioned mortar."The [explosive ordnance disposal team] attended yesterday as a precaution and disposed of the mortar."Additionally some flammable and potentially hazardous chemicals have been located and we are working to remove these safely."Our priority is the safety of the wider public and those attending the scene. We do not believe there is a wider danger to the public, and evacuation of residents is not required."Officers and other agencies are likely to be at the property for some time to make sure the property is safe."There is no ongoing criminal investigation".The coroner has been informed. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store