A jury has been told an 83-year-old woman allegedly murdered by her lodger would have sustained a blow 'into wet blood' while she was in the hallway of her home.

Patricia Holland had taken pity on Allan Scott, 42, who was homeless, and let him move into her home on Lowestoft Road, Gorleston.

Eastern Daily Press:

But Norwich Crown Court heard Scott became aggressive and violent towards her before her death, sometime between July 24 and July 25 2021.

Scott has gone on trial accused of murdering Mrs Holland, whose partial remains were found by police in a bonfire in the garden of her home after she was reported missing.

Eastern Daily Press:

Jamie Burke, a forensic scientist, who analyses blood samples to determine whose blood and DNA has been found, gave evidence in the case on Wednesday (March 1).

He said that in his opinion the blood staining and patterning found at the property "indicated that at least one blow into Pat Holland's wet blood occurred in front of a chair in the hallway".

Mr Burke said Mrs Holland "must've already been injured and wet with blood" when that blow occurred.

He said blood pattering shows the blow must have been dealt at a "low level" as the chair had blood spattered onto the "underside of the seat".

Eastern Daily Press:

Other conclusions from Mr Burke included that some of the blood found in the hallway appears to have been "cast off a moving object".

He said drips of blood were found to have moved from the "hallway to the kitchen".

Mr Burke said there was an area at the back door where there were "several drips of blood that had pooled" and could have been from a body.

Scott, of no fixed address, but formerly of Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, denies murder.

The trial continues.