UK - Peter Wrighton, 83, stabbed to death, East Harling, Norfolk, 5 Aug 2017 *Arrest*

Police investigating the death of an 83-year-old dog walker who was found dead in woodland have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
Norfolk Police confirmed a man aged in his 20s from East Harling, Norfolk, was being questioned in custody over the killing of Peter Wrighton.

...
But a Home Office post-mortem examination later found the grandfather had been stabbed multiple times in the head and neck.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-probe-death-dog-walker-83.html#ixzz4pXrV9cQM

 
Pictured: Army cadet, 23, charged with the murder of an elderly pensioner, 83, who was stabbed to death while out walking his dogs in woodland


An Army cadet has appeared in court charged with the murder of a grandfather who was attacked as he walked his dogs.

Alexander Palmer, 23, was charged in the early hours of Monday and appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court by video-link.

Palmer had served as an army cadet and at the age of 16 began training as a paratrooper in the British Army's Parachute Regiment.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4787752/Man-23-charged-murder-dog-walker-83.html
 
Mr Palmer, of Cringleford, was remanded in custody to appear at Norwich Crown Court on 12 September.

No plea was entered when Mr Palmer, of Freesia Way, appeared via video-link before Judge Stephen Holt at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday.

A provisional trial date was set for 12 February 2018.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-40935505
 
[FONT=&quot]Chris Youell, prosecution barrister, said there would be no application for bail today, so they were seeking a remand in custody through to the plea and trial preparation hearing on September 12.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The court heard there would be “some sort of trial” in this case with a provisional date pencilled in for February 12 next year.

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[FONT=&quot]Stephen Dyble, defence barrister, confirmed there would be some kind of trial but could not expand at this stage.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Judge Stephen Holt said: “Mr Palmer, I hope you’ve understood what’s gone on this morning?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“There will be a hearing in one month’s time (September 12). That’s a plea and case management hearing when we will sort out various matters about the trial.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Judge Holt confirmed that, at the moment, a trial date had been pencilled in for February next year. It is expected the trial might last two weeks.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/alexande...-murder-of-peter-wrighton-next-year-1-5148706
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[FONT=&quot]Alexander Palmer, 23, of Freesia Way, Cringleford, who served with the British Army between 2010 and 2015, was charged with murder and appeared at Norwich Crown Court this morning (Tuesday, September 12).

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[FONT=&quot]It was supposed to be a plea and trial preparation hearing but defence barrister Paul Raudnitz lodged an application to adjourn the hearing until November 17.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He said there was a “psychiatric” element to this case and an issue over fitness to plead. They were seeking a report which would take a few weeks.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/p...er-palmer-to-have-psychiatric-tests-1-5190877
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[FONT=&quot]A jury of eight women and four men have been sworn in to try the defendant.

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[FONT=&quot]The defendant appears in court in a secure dock with frosted glass sides meaning he cannot easily be seen from the public gallery where members of Mr Wrighton’s family are seated as well as members of his own family.

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[FONT=&quot]The trial, which is being presided over by The Honourable Mr Justice Goose, is scheduled to last for two to three weeks.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/jury-swo...ing-murder-accused-alexander-palmer-1-5401677
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[FONT=&quot]Mr Wrighton, a former BT worker, was described as a “lovely, gentle husband, dad and grandfather” who loved walking his dogs, Gemma and Dylan.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Following Mr Wrighton’s death his family released a statement in which they thanked people for their support.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It said: “We have received so many cards, flowers and kind words from those who knew Peter and it has been a great comfort to us at this time. He would have been so touched to know that so many people thought so highly of him.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Peter’s son added: “My dad was the sweetest, most mild-mannered, gentle old boy you could wish to meet. To have him taken from us in such a way is, at the moment, too much for us to comprehend.”

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/east-harling-murder-trial-due-to-start-1-5400626
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The article gives more information about his horrific injuries. It also gives more information about AP's mental health. It seems he is not using a mental health defence but that he didn't do it, even though he was in the area at the time.

[FONT=&amp]"Opening the prosecution case Stephen Spence..[/FONT][FONT=&amp]


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[FONT=&amp]"Mr Spence said police received an anonymous call from a psychologist who had been part of a mental health team at RAF Marham that had been involved with Palmer.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Having read reports of what happened they suggested to police that Palmer, a former soldier, was someone police might want to look at.

"Palmer, who was said to have a desire to kill strangers with a particular grudge towards dog walkers, had made references to carrying out attacks to the throat and the neck.

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[FONT=&amp]"Phone evidence showed he was in the area at the time.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]"Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras also showed his car, which has the registration number L666 AHP, had travelled to the area on the same day too.

"David Spens QC, defending, said the prosecution had no “direct” evidence that Palmer had killed Mr Wrighton."

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/p...t-harling-knife-murder-army-soldier-1-5402425
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The court heard on one occasion Palmer told staff: “When I eventually hurt someone, I know that I will plan out the method in my head, go to the desired place where I wish the scene to be set and then I will carry out the act of hurting someone.
"It could be anyone that it happens to. “Just random, but I will have already thought about what I am going to do.”
Palmer admitted in police interview being in The Heath at the time, but said he was there because he was "feeling low and it was a place where he had happy childhood memories".

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5628739/banham-norfolk-pensioner-murder-alexander-palmer-trial/
 
A married couple came across the body at 10.45am and called the police.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/9...alker-Peter-Wrighton-Alexander-Palmer-Norfolk


[FONT=&amp]Giving evidence at Nottingham Crown Court this morning, Mr Davies said he was taking his golden retriever for a walk on Harling Heath when he met a man who was alone in the area.

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[FONT=&amp]He said he left the house on August 5 between 9.30am and 9.45am, arriving at the site around 15 minutes later.

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[FONT=&amp]Mr Davies, who was aged 68 at the time, said the man “cut across” the heath as he came towards him and was alone.

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[FONT=&amp]Mr Davies said the man was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, which were grey in colour. He said he had dark hair, brushed back from his forehead, and a light beard.

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[FONT=&amp]The court heard how Mr Davies helped provide an e-fit to police, but was not asked to attend an identity parade.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/a...rling-murder-nottingham-crown-court-1-5403495

Sounds like this man had a lucky escape.[/FONT]
 
[FONT=&quot]Mrs Precious said she spotted two dogs off their leads before finding Mr Wrighton’s body next to the walkway at around 10.50am.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]She said: “I thought he had fallen over at first and I assumed he was the owner of the dogs.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“I did bend down initially and I was going to help him get up. But then I saw the injury and I was pretty sure he was dead.”

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/east-harling-peter-wrighton-alexander-palmer-murder-1-5403655
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I wonder what in the heck the motive was. This poor man was just out walking his dogs and ends up stabbed to death.....
 
[FONT=&quot]Mr Bibby told the court he arrived in the area at around 9.45am with his pet terrier, Nelson.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He said he passed several dog walkers before spotting a man wearing “heavy duty flip flops, smart shorts and a shirt”.

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[FONT=&quot]“He did not have a dog and seemed a bit out of place,” he added.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mr Bibby told the court that he later searched for the name Alex Palmer on Facebook after it was circulated in the media.

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[FONT=&quot]But David Spens QC, defending, suggested that the witness was mistaken.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He said: “By the time you saw that image on Facebook, you knew this Alex Palmer was a suspect.

Mr Bibby said that was not the case, adding: “It is difficult to describe someone, but when you have been in their presence and then you see them, that confirms you are correct.”

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/woman-re...r-wrighton-in-east-harling-woodland-1-5404056
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Confusing stance by the defence. AP admits he was there, and the witness isn't saying he saw him commit the murder.
 

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