Page 16 - Simon Spence News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Rating: In 1776, Elizabeth Chudleigh, former royal lady-in-waiting and dedicated party girl, found herself fighting for her freedom and reputation in front of the House of Lords.  She had been summoned to defend herself against the charge of bigamy. Dressed for drama, and modelling her look on that of the tragic Mary Queen of Scots two centuries earlier, ‘the Duchess Countess’ as she was popularly known, played the role of tragic heroine to perfection.  Tickets for the court went on sale, and the newspapers devoted more column inches to the scandal than to the on-going American war of ...

“But at the time I just couldn’t manage anything. I couldn’t start recovering. I couldn’t go to work, I just couldn’t cope. “With the impact of lockdown causing further delays, I just can’t imagine the amount of suffering that people are going through." The number of cases waiting to be heard in Norfolk involving sexual assault, drug offences and violence against the person has risen by more than 50pc since 2019, while the number of cases to be heard involving possession of a weapon has more than doubled. Meanwhile, the number of trials held in Norfolk crown courts has plummete...

Mr Paxton alleged that West-Davidson had encouraged others to attack Mr Pooley at the riverside. He claimed that Sebastian Smith and Palmer had attacked Mr Pooley and caused his body to end up in the river. He alleged that Sebastian Smith’s then girlfriend, Lisa-Marie Smith, lured Mr Pooley from his address at the Kingsley House Hotel, in London Road, knowing he was going to be attacked, or at the very least “given a serious beating”. Sebastian Smith, the only defendant to give evidence in the case, denied telling a friend that he and Palmer had “put Joe in the river".

Mr Paxton alleged that West-Davidson had encouraged others to attack Mr Pooley at the riverside. He claimed that Sebastian Smith and Palmer had attacked Mr Pooley and caused his body to end up in the river. He alleged that Sebastian Smith’s then girlfriend, Lisa-Marie Smith, lured Mr Pooley from his address at the Kingsley House Hotel, in London Road, knowing he was going to be attacked, or at the very least “given a serious beating”. Sebastian Smith, the only defendant to give evidence in the case, denied telling a friend that he and Palmer had “put Joe in the river".

A jury heard that the death of Joe Pooley could have been an accident - Credit: Archant The death of Ipswich man Joe Pooley could have been an accident, a jury has heard.  The defence closing speeches in the murder trial continued on Wednesday, with Simon Spence QC, representing Sean Palmer, addressing the jury.  Four people are accused of "ganging up" and murdering 22-year-old Mr Pooley, whose body was found in the River Gipping.  Palmer, 30, of South Market Road, Great Yarmouth, Becki West-Davidson, 30, of Rope Walk, Ipswich, Sebastian Smith, 35, of no fixed address, and Lisa-Marie Smit...