A jury has been told a man accused of murdering his landlady was a "calculating man" who burnt her body so he could "make her disappear" and carry on living in her home.

Allan Scott, 42, is on trial for the murder of Patricia Holland who had allowed him to lodge with her at her home on Lowestoft Road, Gorleston.

Norwich Crown Court has been told he burnt her body in a fire in the back garden in an attempt to fake the 83-year-old’s disappearance so he could continue living in her house.

Eastern Daily Press:

On Wednesday (March 22) the jury heard a closing speech from David Spens KC, prosecuting, who described it as a "shocking" case.

He asked the jury: "How could one human being do that to the body of another human being?"

Mr Spens said the motive for Scott killing Mrs Holland was "to keep a roof over his head" as the "tenancy agreement" was "worthless" and gave him no protection from eviction.

Eastern Daily Press:

Scott knew he was not in her will and that she had been "determined to get him out" meaning the "solution was to kill her and make her disappear so he could pretend she had gone missing".

Mr Spens said Scott was an "intelligent, calculating man" who "intended to get rid of all remains of her blood inside the house so there would be no evidence that she was dead".

Eastern Daily Press:

He said: "The prosecution say that, in drink, angered by having been made to leave the house on the night of July 24 2021 he returned.

"As much as Mrs Holland was determined to get him out he was determined to stay there and to achieve that he killed her."

Scott, of no fixed address, denies murder.

The trial continues with a jury of 10 after another juror, who was ill, was discharged.