Teenagers appear in court charged with robbery after death of Suffolk pensioner
The pair, aged 15 and 16, were initially arrested on suspicion of the murder of 82-year-old Joy Middleditch in March last year.
Last updated 10th Jun 2024
Two teenage boys have appeared in court charged with robbery and burglary after the death of a pensioner who was found lying unconscious on the floor of her bungalow.
The pair, aged 15 and 16, were initially arrested on suspicion of the murder of 82-year-old Joy Middleditch in March last year.
Ms Middleditch, who lived in Pakefield, Suffolk, was found lying on the floor of her end-of-terrace bungalow in Grayson Avenue by concerned family members on March 25.
She died in hospital in the early hours of March 27.
Ms Middleditch had told her relatives, and later police officers, she had heard a noise at the door before two masked men forced their way in and knocked her to the ground.
Suffolk Police said two boys, aged 14 and 15 at the time, were initially arrested on suspicion of murder then released on bail pending further inquiries.
The two boys appeared before Norwich Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday.
The charges, read to the court by the legal adviser, allege that the boys robbed Ms Middleditch of a handbag of unknown value on March 25 last year, and that on the same date they entered an address in Grayson Avenue with intent to steal.
The 16-year-old boy, who was supported in court by his mother and his grandfather, indicated a plea of not guilty to both counts.
The 15-year-old boy, who attended court with a social worker, indicated a plea of not guilty to robbery, and one of guilty to burglary.
Presiding magistrate Tony Cronk bailed both boys until a further hearing at the same court on July 1, when the case will be discussed further.