Jury sworn in for trial of man accused of murdering Suffolk dog walker
Roy Barclay previously pleaded not guilty to the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose
At Ipswich Crown Court today (27/05), a jury was sworn in and sent away for the trial of a man accused of murdering dog walker Anita Rose.
56-year-old Roy Barclay, of no fixed address, appeared wearing a grey tracksuit.
He seemed calm when confirming his identity and showed no variety of emotion throughout the day.
Barclay denies murdering Anita Rose in July last year.
What happened?
Anita Rose, a mother of six, had left her house at around 5 am on the 24 July 2024, to take her springer spaniel dog Bruce for a walk, but was found critically injured at approximately 6:25am.
The cyclist found her unconscious lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane.
By the time she'd been found, Anita's vibrant pink jacket had been taken, and she was wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg.
The cyclist then called an ambulance, which took Rose to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge.
She had sustained serious head and facial injuries.
Despite the best efforts of doctors, Anita died four days later.
It was on Monday, the 21st of October, over four weeks since the murder took place, that officers arrested Barclay and took him to Martlesham Police station.
Barclay was then charged with Anita's murder the following evening.
And today, jurors were told that the trial is due to last for eight weeks, before being sent away until tomorrow (28/05).
The prosecution case is expected to open later this week.