BREAKING NEWS On-the-run convict murdered grandmother Anita Rose in 'brutal' attack as she walked dog before she was found with his boot marks on her face, court told
An on-the-run convict who was living off-grid to avoid being recalled to prison killed a grandmother out walking her dog in a 'vicious and brutal attack', a court heard today.
Anita Rose, 57, was subjected to 'numerous kicks, stamps and blows' by Roy Barclay, 56, whose semen was found on her jacket, jurors were told.
Opening the case, prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said mother-of-six Ms Rose left her home in Brantham, Suffolk, to walk her dog, Bruce, on July 24 last year.
She was found by passers-by but died four days later in hospital.
'After she left home and before 6.25 that morning, Anita Rose was subject to a vicious and brutal attack with numerous kicks, stamps and blows being delivered to her face, head and body,' Mr Paxton told Ipswich Crown Court.
'Found by passers-by, help was called for but on July 28 Anita Rose died in Addenbrooke's Hospital [in Cambridge ] from the injuries she received.'
'No eyewitnesses saw the incident', Mr Paxton told jurors, adding: 'You will hear that Roy Barclay had no fixed address and lived mostly in the countryside, wandering the fields and lanes, sleeping in various makeshift camps.
'He lived off-grid because, for two years, Roy Barclay had been unlawfully at large.
'He had been on the run trying to avoid the police and authorities to try and avoid being recalled back to prison.'
The prosecutor said a pink jacket worn by Ms Rose on the day she was attacked was found at one of Barclay's makeshift camps.
The defendant kept the jacket 'as a trophy' and it had his 'semen on the neckline', it is alleged.
Mr Paxton added Barclay's walking boots, which 'amounted to the murder weapon', were found at the same camp.
There is 'support for the conclusion that the marks on Anita's face were made by these boots', the barrister said.
Ms Rose's phone case was also found there and her Samsung earbuds were located at a different makeshift camp Barclay had used.
The barrister said Barclay, who 'carries dog biscuits with him and is a dog lover', tied the dog lead around Ms Rose's leg 'we say to stop Bruce running off'.
'Paramedics found Bruce the dog's lead wrapped tightly round Anita's leg,' he added.
'Cunning and resourceful' Barclay is said to have made various internet searches after the attack, including 'how are outside objects swabbed for DNA?' and 'can barbed wire be swabbed for DNA?'.
The defendant, who wore glasses, a grey prison-issue tracksuit and has a grey beard and long, thinning grey hair, listened to proceedings from the secure dock of the court. He denies murder.
Relatives of Ms Rose listened from the public gallery.
The trial, which is due to last eight weeks, continues.
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