Closing speeches in Clowne murder trial

Peter Joyce QC was giving his closing speech in the trial of a 32-year-old man from Clowne charged with stabbing his former flame Lee Hendry in the neck on Tuesday 13th September 2011 after a night of sex.

Alexander Burnett, from Westlea View, denies the charge of murder. He told jurors he would often strangle Ms Hendry, from Brimington, Chesterfield, during sex and that she introduced the knife after selecting it from the kitchen.

A pathologist told the court she was found with bruising around her neck consistent with strangulation and sex play. Ms Hendry had a keen interest in vampires and her sister, Maxine Bonser, told the court she liked being dominated during sex.

Jurors heard how Burnett had handed himself in to police later that day but was silent through interviews before claiming it was an accident.

Mr Joyce told Nottingham Crown Court today (Friday) his defence was ‘nonsense’.

He said: “Has there ever been a hint from him of sorry? Has there ever been a hint from him of emotion? Has there ever been a hint from him of any regret that Leigh Carol Hendry is dead, at his hand?”

“Answer: no, none. This is murder.”

Officers arrived at Burnett’s home at 8.35pm on 13th September to find Ms Hendry on the floor of Burnett’s bedroom and a knife next to the wardrobe.

Shaun Smith, defending, told the jury it was an accident and that Mr Joyce was ‘speculating’.

“People feel naturally sorry as a result to what is said to be a crime,” he said. “But you should never let emotions get in the way of the evidence, or the lack of.”

“The question you have to ask yourself is that ‘can I be sure that the stab wound inflicted was deliberate?’”

“If you are not sure, if you think it might have arisen from an accident he is not guilty,” he added.

The case has been adjourned to Monday morning at 10am.

The trial continues.