Widow cleared of two murder charges

Charges over Mr McCluskey (left) and Mr Diaz dropped

A widow on trial for murdering four Cambridge men has been cleared of two of the charges.

Jurors at Norwich Crown Court found Kathleen McCluskey, 42, not guilty of murdering her husband James McCluskey, 44, and Raymond Diaz, 50, on directions of the trial judge.

Mrs McCluskey, of Gray Road, Cambridge, was also cleared of two alternative charges of manslaughter.

Mr Justice Moses instructed the jury to bring in two not guilty verdicts after deciding that the prosecution had offered insufficient evidence.

Drug overdoses

The jury has heard that Mrs McCluskey was present at the death of all four men who died from drug overdoses.

The hearing continues on the charges of murdering artist Mohammed Assadi, 47, and care assistant Marvin Brodie, 32.

Mrs McCluskey also denies two alternative counts of manslaughter.

Noxious substance

The defendant also denies administering a noxious substance to Peter Bakulinskyj, 38.

Prosecutors completed their case against Mrs McCluskey earlier this week.

Her defence began on Friday and the trial is expected to end next week.

The hearing continues.