Man pleads not guilty to murdering Suffolk dog walker Anita Rose
Anita Rose was found unconscious with a serious head injury and died four days later
Last updated 31st Jan 2025
A man's pleaded not guilty to murdering a mum-of-six from Suffolk who was found unconscious after taking her dog for a walk.
Anita Rose left her house to take her springer spaniel Bruce for a walk at around 5am on 24th July.
The 57-year-old was found unconscious with a serious head injury near Rectory Lane in Brantham, at around 6.25am, and died in hospital four days later.
Today, at Ipswich Crown Court, 55 year old Roy Barclay, of no fixed address, denied her murder.
A trial date's been set for May 27th.
"We miss her"
Speaking previously, Jessica Cox, one of Ms Rose's daughters, paid tribute to her mum, describing her as a "beautiful, strong, independent woman" who was "funny and she's so kind".
"My mum's got six kids, I've got four brothers and a sister, and she looks after all of us, and she loved to spend time with all of us, with all of her grandchildren," she said.
"My mum has a long-term partner, Richard. They've been together 13 years.
"They adored each other and mum was planning on growing old with him.
"My mum dotes on us all and we miss her."
"She had so much to live for"
She said her mother moved to Brantham around six years ago.
"She just loved the area, literally loved walking and seeing people in the community, and Mum said to me that she feels safe here," said Ms Cox.
"Mum would get up early to walk Bruce in the mornings so that he had a good walk before she went to work.
"Being a springer he needed a lot of exercise."
"She had so much to live for, so much she was looking forward to"
She described Ms Rose's funeral in September as "a difficult day because we shouldn't be having to have a funeral for my mum".
"She's 57 years old and she had so much to live for, so much she was looking forward to," she said.
"She was supposed to be on holiday right now.
"We haven't got our mum and our mum isn't here to look after us any more.
"My mum is going to miss out on birthdays, the birth of my nephew, her grandson, she's going to miss my brother getting married next year."