You’re not detectives, QC tells ‘body in bag’ jury

Andrew Lindo, 29, strangled, battered and then stabbed Marie Stewart after accusing her of mistreating their young daughter, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He has admitted manslaughter but denies murdering Miss Stewart on December 18 last year.

Robert Smith, QC, defending, said his client was a devoted father who had never been violent in the past. Mr Smith also told the jury the killing was not planned or premeditated.

He said: “What other explanation is there for the killing? That something happened in that house to tip him over the edge.”

He urged the jurors not to speculate on the facts, telling them they were not detectives.

“If you have theories on what happened that night, those theories need to be grounded firmly in evidence,” he told them.

The jury has heard that Miss Stewart’s body was not found for several weeks during which time Lindo allegedly used her Facebook profile and mobile phone to convince her family and friends she had deserted her young son and daughter and was with a new man.

It was alleged Lindo was living a double life with another woman, Angela Rylance, and was planning a future with her.

Mr Smith told the jury the case was “terrible, sad and distressing” but added: “Once emotion and prejudice are put aside and the evidence examined carefully, there are compelling reasons that Andrew Lindo is not guilty of murder.”