Bury St Edmunds 'robbery': Prosecutor says a 'lot of evidence' links pair on trial

There is a ‘lot of evidence’ to suggest two men charged with robbing an 83-year-old woman in Bury St Edmunds were involved, a prosecutor has said.

Robert Duke, 35, of Broad Road, Bacton, and Kyle Haggerty, 26, of no fixed abode, continue to deny they targeted the elderly woman on June 27 as she walked to a friend’s house in Tennyson Road.

They have both pleaded not guilty to robbery and are on trial this week in Ipswich Crown Court and today (Friday, November 8) a jury heard the prosecution speech.

Gavin Pottinger, prosecuting, said: “There is a lot of evidence to suggest both men are involved. They were both in the area at the time.

“This (attack) did not happen out of the blue, there was a reason why and that was because they knew she was carrying money.”

In previous hearings, the court heard the woman say she had withdrawn £200 from the Lake Avenue post office and then bought fish and chips, which she planned to eat with a friend.

It was when she was walking to his house in Tennyson Road that she was allegedly approached from behind and fell to the floor during the ordeal. She suffered cuts and bruises. She lost her handbag which contained cash and bank cards. A watch was found at the scene.

In earlier hearings, CCTV images were used to apparently show Duke inside the post office with the woman, while it was said that Haggerty had attempted to use one of her bank cards.

Duke and Haggerty have not given testimony as witnesses. According to counsel, both men had said in interviews they had been in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’. Duke allegedly claimed he had approached the woman to ask directions, while Haggerty said he was meeting Duke to arrange the sale of a watch.

Mr Pottinger said earlier in the week both defendants were now ‘blaming each other’ and that Duke had returned to the house in Tennyson Road the next day.

Today the prosecutor added: “Duke had prepared an account and there are holes in his prepared account. This robbery would not have taken place without his knowledge.”

The jury have also been now told both defendants have previous convictions.

During Mr Pottinger’s speech, Duke called out across the court ‘you are twisting everything I say,’ for which the judge cautioned him. It was the only time either defendant spoke.

Defence counsel are expected to give their speeches at the next hearing.

Before lunchtime, Judge Emma Peters dismissed the jury for the weekend with the trial likely to re-commence and conclude on Monday, November 11.