Jury told to avoid emotion

THE JUDGE in the Suzanne Capper murder trial yesterday told the jury not to let emotion cloud its judgement after hearing details of 'horrifying events'.

Mr Justice Potts was speaking at the start of his summing-up on the 19th day of the trial at Manchester Crown Court - exactly one year after 16-year-old Suzanne was set on fire and killed.

He told the jury of eight men and four women: 'This is a case which, on any view, concerns horrifying events. It is of fundamental, crucial importance that you consider the evidence that you have heard dispassionately and reach your verdicts without emotion.'

The court has been told that Suzanne was held captive for nearly a week in Manchester. She was tied to a bed, beaten and tortured. She also had two of her front teeth pulled out with a pair of pliers.

On 14 December last year, she was taken to remote woodland at Werneth Low, near Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Suzanne was doused in petrol and set on fire. She was found wandering naked shortly afterwards. She had 70 per cent burns and died in hospital four days later.

Bernadette McNeilly, 24, Jean Powell, 26, her estranged husband, Glyn Powell, 29, Anthony Dudson, 17, and Jeffrey Leigh, 27, all deny murder. Clifford Pook, 18, was cleared of murder earlier in the trial on the direction of the judge.

Jean Powell, McNeilly, Pook, Dudson and Leigh admit false imprisonment, a charge denied by Mr Powell. Pook also admits conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, which is denied by the other five defendants.

All the accused come from Moston, in Manchester.

The trial continues today.