An Old Bailey caseworker who killed an elderly widow he met at a local bridge club tried to kill himself by eating poison mushrooms, a court heard today.
Thomas Blazquez, 51, from Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, ate raw mushrooms he picked from a prison yard at Wandsworth jail in the hope they would kill him, Southwark Crown Court was told.
Blazquez stamped 77-year-old Rosemary Shearman, from Platford Green, Hornchurch to death as she waited for a taxi to take her to a cruise ship, the court heard.
The former CPS clerk, who has worked on hundreds of infamous murder cases, knew Mrs Shearman as an “acquaintance”, through his mother and their shared love of bridge.
He killed Mrs Shearman as she returned home from the hairdressers and had her bags ready to go for her luxury trip away.
A post-mortem found that the grandmother died from “multiple chest wall fractures” and from “mechanical obstruction of the upper airways”.
Dr Longhitano, a forensic psychiatrist, earlier described the killer as having no friends: “He told me he had never had a relationship.”
Besides being a Spurs fan and a keen bridge player, Dr Longhitano said Blazquez harboured “bizarre interests” like collecting knives and swords.
The knifeman was also an avowed gambling addict and “occasional user’ of cannabis.
Dr Longhitano then recounted his first interview with Blazquez, after his arrest on October 28, 2013.
“At the first interview he described himself as being depressed. He was planning to commit suicide with any means available.
“He did mention a number of ways he wanted to commit suicide in prison.
“I think the day before, he ate some mushrooms he found in the garden of HMP Wandsworth, hoping they were toxic.”
Blazquez admits manslaughter but denies her murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The trial continues.
Read more:
Former prosecution case worker stamped Hornchurch pensioner Rosemary Shearman to death, court hears
CPS clerk beat Hornchurch’s Rosemary Shearman to death before attempting suicide, a court heard
Trial of man accused of murdering Hornchurch pensioner Rosemary Shearman set to begin
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