- The skeleton body of James ‘Anthony’ Sootheran, who once weighed 17 stone, was found on March 18, 2014, in his bedroom
- Lynda, 62, and Wayne Rickard, 66, were arrested and jointly charged with murdering the 59-year-old former auctioneer’s clerk
A carer and her husband accused of starving their live-in landlord to death in a bid to inherit his £3.5 million estate have appeared in court on the first day of their re-trial.
The skeleton body of James ‘Anthony’ Sootheran, who once weighed 17 stone, was found on March 18, 2014, in his bedroom in Oxfordshire.
Lynda, 62, and Wayne Rickard, 66, were arrested and jointly charged with murdering the 59-year-old former auctioneer’s clerk.
Today, a prospective jury was told the trial could last until early June before being sent away with a list of names to study overnight.
Sitting in Reading Crown Court, Mr Justice Wall said: ‘All of you have indicated that you are able to serve which might involve sitting into early June. I have given you a list of people or places – if they mean anything to you, you will not be able to sit.
‘I am asking that you take the paper home overnight and study it. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.’
Lynda Rickard, of Banbury, Oxordshire, also denied gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Bearded American Wayne Rickard, of the same address as his wife, was additionally charged with causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult, fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Friends of the Rickards, Michael Dunkley, 49, of Brickle Lane, Bloxham, near Banbury, stands charged with fraud in relation to the forged will of Mr Sootheran, alongside 41-year-old Denise Neal, of Lower Tysoe, Warwickshire.
Shanda Robinson, 51, of Banbury, denied fraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The five defendants were released on bail and were set to appear in court on Wednesday for the opening of the trial.
DAILY MAIL
14/04/21