Youth raped and killed grandmother

Lee Brown denies murdering Joan Biggs

A grandmother was raped and stabbed to death in her home by a teenager who left her body to burn on a cooker, a court heard.

Lee Brown, 19, is accused of murdering widow Joan Biggs, 79, at her Northampton home on 27 January last year.

On Tuesday, Mr Brown pleaded guilty to burgling Mrs Biggs's house and raping her but denied murder.

He admitted the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Northampton Crown Court.

Mr Brown also denied an earlier charge of attempted trespass with intent to steal at an adjacent house on the same day.

The defendant accepts that he raped and killed Mrs Biggs Yvonne Coen QC, prosecuting

Mrs Biggs, who lived alone, was found dead in the kitchen of her semi-detached bungalow in Carlton Gardens, Kingsley, Northampton, on 27 January last year.

She had been stabbed many times and assaulted in her own bedroom before being moved to the kitchen where her body was left to burn on the cooker hob.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Yvonne Coen QC told the jury: "In January of last year Mrs Joan Biggs was found dead at home in Northampton.

"She had been raped and stabbed to death by this defendant. A purse and other items had been stolen.

"The defendant accepts that he raped and killed Mrs Biggs. He has pleaded guilty to raping Mrs Biggs and burgling her home.

'Steel yourselves' jurors told

"The principal issue for you, the jury, is does the defendant's killing of Mrs Biggs amount to murder or manslaughter?

"The case you are about to hear concerns some very shocking and unpleasant details.

"Some evidence you may find distressing but it has to be done in order to present the Crown's case properly.

"Steel yourselves for some rather grim evidence which you are about to hear."

The case continues.