Teen's prints found at murder scene, court told

A teenager's finger and palm prints were found in the home of a man who was discovered dead on New Year's Day last year, a murder trial has been told.

William McNicholl, 63, was found dead at his home in Ipswich having suffered head injuries and a stab wound to the right shoulder.

Prosecutors believe Jake McMillan may have killed him on Christmas Day 2024 and the 18-year-old is on trial accused of murder.

Ipswich Crown Court was told McMillan, of Peterhouse Close in the Chantry area of the town, had thrown away a knife, the clothes he was wearing and three of the victim's phones.

On the first day of the trial, which is due to last up to four weeks, the court heard how the defendant had gone to McNicholl's house in Hawthorn Drive - in Chantry - on Christmas Day on his dad's electric bike.

He is alleged to have spent two hours there between 15:15 GMT and 17:15, during which he attacked McNicholl in his sitting room before leaving him for dead.

McNicholl, who lived alone with his Staffordshire bull terrier, Leo, was found lying face down on the floor by police at 18:00 on New Year's Day.

Neighbours had made concerned calls having not seen him since 25 December, but having heard his dog howling.

Officers said McMillan was seen on camera footage arriving in the area.

He was questioned as part of general inquiries before being arrested on suspicion of murder on 22 January, initially saying he knew nothing about McNicholl's death.

McMillan was detained again on 21 July and this time admitted he had gone to the victim's home to collect his rucksack before finding him dead on the floor.

The court heard he provided no explanation when quizzed by officers about why he then stayed at the home for two hours.

Jurors were told that forensics officers who assessed the scene found finger and palm prints belonging to McMillan.

They also retrieved footprints in blood around McNicholl's body and on his top and back - the court heard - and made by the soles of a pair of black Nike Air Force 1 trainers.

The trainers, worn by McMillan at the time - and the knife suspected to have been used to stab McNicholl - have never been found.

However, McMillan did admit to taking three of the victim's mobile phones and dumping them in the river near the Sir Bobby Robson Bridge, the court heard.

Simon Spence KC, prosecuting, questioned why McMillan would go to such lengths to get rid of the items if he was innocent.

The trial continues.

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