Teen "troublemaker" linked with 83-year-old's murder

Despite prosecution claims that the notion was “far-fetched”, the defence team said the boy’s father had suggested the tearaway was the culprit.

Lea Bridge Road pensioner Helen Mercer died a week after she was brutally beaten in her own bedroom in June 1994. West India Dock Road resident, Edward Ross, was arrested last year after his palm print was matched to a bloody mark above her bed.

But Daniel Janner, defending the unemployed 39-year-old, told the court that Matthew had stolen her keys during a burglary at Miss Mercer’s home two days earlier.

The Old Bailey heard a statement from Matthew’s grandmother Ada Clarke, claiming Matthew’s own father Kerry had reportedly said: “I know he done it, and he got away with it.”

Matthew’s aunt Jerrena Clarke had told police she heard Matthew and a 19-year-old had assaulted Miss Mercer to stop her identifying two boys who had attempted to steal her TV.

He was arrested in 1996, but not charged and he has not been called as witness in this trial to answer the claims. His grandmother is now dead, and his father and aunt cannot be located.

Under cross examination, Ross said he frequently passed Miss Mercer’s house on his way from his home in Oliver Road to his mother’s home. He said they talked only once, when she called him up her steps and they talked for five minutes.

He said: “I insisted on telling her that if she needed anything I would go and buy it for her, but she said she was fine. Maybe she called me for someone to talk to.”

He said he only found out she had been murdered when he was arrested in 2007.

Daniel Janner, defending, argued there was “scope for doubt” in the crown’s case. He said he could have marked the wall on discovering Miss Mercer a day later, and lied to police because he panicked.
He said: “The case remains a mystery. The palm mark – even if you’re sure it’s his – doesn’t answer the vital question as to who beat Helen Mercer.”

John McGuinness, prosecuting, claimed Matthew Norman’s family’s statements were “far fetched”. He argued the palm print proved Ross was “physically involved” in the attack.

Fingerprint teams found three marks at the scene, and examiners matched them to Ross’ print last year.

The jury retired to consider their verdict on Tuesday.