Double murder trial after 30-year DNA breakthrough
A BURGLAR murdered two elderly siblings during a violent raid on their home – and got away it for nearly three decades, a court has heard.
Danville Neil tied up and battered Anne Castle, 74, and her brother William Bryan, 71, jurors were told yesterday.
Mrs Castle suffered a heart attack and Mr Bryan went into cardiac arrest when Neil smothered him, it was claimed.
Their home was looted by the killer, then 36, who fled with a quantity of jewellery, the Old Bailey was told.
But thanks to advances in forensic science, experts were able to detect Neil’s DNA on the binocular strap he used to tie up Mr Bryan, said prosecutor Alison Morgan KC.
Neil broke into the siblings’ home in Bethnal Green, east London, on the night of August 22, 1993.
Ms Morgan explained: “Their home was ransacked. Jewellery was stolen. They were beaten and restrained.
“Anne Castle suffered a heart attack. William Bryan was beaten and smothered, which caused him to go into cardiac arrest.
“It took nearly 30 years for Danville Neil to be identified as the person responsible for these terrible events.”
Convictions
Neil was a prolific thief and had many convictions for burglary, the jury was told.
Mrs Castle first moved into the flat in Priam House with her husband at the end of the SecondWorldWar in 1945.
Later that year, her brother moved in with them when he was invalided out of the Army after contracting tuberculosis, the court heard.
Mr Castle died in 1987 and the siblings continued to live with each other.
They were security-conscious and Mrs Castle always used the chain on the front door if she did not know the identity of a caller.
Neil, now 65, of Lewisham, south London, denies two counts of murder.
He insists he has never set foot inside Priam House – and, up until Tuesday, he offered no explanation of how his DNA got onto the binocular strap, the court was told.
But Ms Morgan added that an innocent explanation was put forward just before the jury was sworn in.
Neil claimed he was involved in car boot sales at the time of the raid and Mr Bryan had bought binoculars he handled, she said. The trial continues.