Fiona Beal was due to stand trial next week
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A Northampton judge has postponed the trial of a teacher accused of murdering her boyfriend after his body was found buried in her back garden. Fiona Beal pleaded not guilty to the charge at Northampton Crown Court last month.
48-year-old Beal, a Northampton primary school teacher, is charged with murdering Nicholas Billingham, 42, between October 30 and November 10 last year. Her trial had been due to start at Northamtpon Crown Court next week.
However, at the court yesterday, Tuesday, September 6, Judge Adrienne Lucking QC vacated the trial to a date to be fixed, after hearing submissions from prosecutor Peter Joyce QC by video-link. It is believed the trial will now take place some time in December.
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The body of Mr Billingham was found in the garden of the house the pair shared in Moore Street in the Kingsley area of Northampton in March. A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died as a result of a stab wound to the neck.
Beal, Mr Billingham's long-time girlfriend, was arrested 200 miles away at a hotel in Cumbria in March – the same day Northamptonshire Police began conducting an extensive search of her home.
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Wearing a blue hoodie and round-rimmed glasses, the former teacher spoke only to confirm her name during her latest appearance in court, which lasted for 13 minutes.
Judge Lucking told Beal, of Moore Street, that she would be notified of a new trial date before a further mention hearing. She said this was likely to take place in December.
The judge told Beal: “I have received a note jointly prepared by both the prosecution and the defence. I am entirely satisfied that both the prosecution and the defence are not ready for trial at this stage and no blame is attached to either side.
“I will vacate the trial date. In the meantime you will remain in custody.”
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