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An 11-year-old boy was convicted of killing an elderly woman who had a slab of concrete dropped on her head from the top of a block of flats. The boy's mother burst into tears when the jury of nine women and three men returned their verdict yesterday at Leeds Crown Court.

Edna Condie, 74, was returning from shopping with her husband George, 76 and daughter Janice Smith, 43, when she died in August last year. The case caused widespread shock when it emerged that a young boy was behind the attack. The jury took just 55 minutes to reach their verdict at the end of a four-day trial. Mr Justice Potter deferred sentencing, calling for social service reports.

The court heard that Mrs Condie was killed instantly from massive head injuries when the slab, which measured 8ins by 8ins by 6ins, smashed on to her skull. The boy, now aged 11 years and seven months, denied manslaughter. PA