Man found guilty of murdering dog walker in Suffolk

Roy Barclay, 56, has been found guilty of the murder of Anita Rose, a 57-year-old mother of six, who was attacked while walking her dog near her home in Brantham, Suffolk, in July 2024. Barclay, who had been living off-grid to avoid recall to prison, inflicted severe injuries on Ms. Rose, including numerous kicks and blows, causing trauma akin to high-speed car accidents; she died four days later in hospital. The prosecution highlighted Barclay's prior violent attack on an 82-year-old pensioner, Leslie Gunfield, with similarities including the use of a dog lead wrapped around the victim, which was described as Barclay's signature. The jury, after a 10-week trial and just over two hours of deliberation, convicted Barclay, who showed no emotion during the proceedings. Barclay is expected to receive a life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for August 6. Despite Barclay's denial and defense claims of insufficient evidence of contact with Ms. Rose's body, the court was persuaded by the prosecution's argument and evidence linking Barclay to the attack.