A FUGITIVE beat a gran to death as she walked her dog while he lived off-grid for two years to avoid being hauled back to jail, a court heard.
Roy Barclay is accused of subjecting Anita Rose to “numerous kicks, stamps and blows” on her face, head and body.
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The 57-year-old had been walking her dog Bruce when she was discovered on a path with bootmarks on her face, jurors heard.
At the time, Barclay, 56, was living in makeshift camps in the countryside “wandering the fields and lanes”.
Ipswich Crown Court heard he had been “unlawfully at large” for two years and went on the run to avoid being recalled to prison.
The “cunning and resourceful” fugitive would carry dog biscuits with him, it was said.
On July 24 last year, Anita left her home in Brantham, Suffolk, to walk Bruce “as she often did”.
The mum-of-six was found by passers-by after being subjected to a “vicious and brutal attack”, jurors were told.
Bruce’s lead was tightly wrapped around her ankle in a bid to stop the dog from “running off”.
Anita was rushed to hospital but died four days later after suffering injuries likened to a road traffic accident.
Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said a pink jacket worn by the mum that day was found at one of Barclay’s makeshift camps.
He said Barclay kept the jacket “as a trophy” and it had his “semen on the neckline”.
The court heard his walking boots, which “amounted to the murder weapon”, were found at the same camp.
Police searching a different camp Barclay used discovered Anita’s phone case and her Samsung earbuds.
Mr Paxton said Barclay made various internet searches after the attack, including “how are outside objects swabbed for DNA“.
Barclay, of no fixed address, denies murder.
The trial, which is due to last eight weeks, continues.
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