Jury goes out in Norwich Suffolk Square murder trial

Theodore Lynch, 41, has been charged with killing Leslie Smith, 63, whose body was discovered in his property on Suffolk Square in October 2021.

Norwich Crown Court has heard Lynch had gone to Mr Smith's flat to give him money to buy drugs.

But later on, the pair rowed after Lynch was told the victim returned without any drugs.

Following the row Lynch was captured on CCTV "running" from the area.

Mr Smith's decomposing body was not found in his flat at Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Smith's decomposing body was not found until 12 days later after neighbours reported a bad smell.

In her summing up remarks Judge Alice Robinson told the jury of eight women and three men that the prosecution claimed the evidence of murder was “overwhelming”.

Stephen Rose KC, prosecuting, had claimed he had “sought to conceal and mislead right from the outset in order to get away with what he had done”.

Judge Robinson said it was argued Lynch had accused Mr Smith of “mugging him off” and being disrespectful which had left him “angry”.

She said he had admitted he had lied over events and had changed his story in subsequent police statements.

However the jury was told the defence had argued there was no direct evidence of what had occurred inside the flat. 

Mr Smith died from a stab wound to the neck (Image: Newsquest)

Ed Renvoize, defending, told the court that Lynch’s intention had been to get drugs or money back not to cause serious injury and that he had panicked afterwards. 

Judge Robinson told the jury that forensics experts had found most of the injury had been internal with the only visible evidence being an oozing wound to the neck.

Lynch, of no fixed address, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.

The trial continues.