Killer is guilty at 2nd trial

AN electrician has been found guilty of the murder of a 77-year-old woman who was beaten and tortured to death – four years after he was acquitted of the crime.

Matthew Hamlen, 37, faced a six-week “double jeopardy” trial for the murder of Georgina Edmonds who was beaten to death with her marble rolling pin at her home in the village of Brambridge, Hampshire, in 2008.

She was tortured for her debit card PIN number by her killer, who later attempted to use it in a cashpoint.

Hamlen ( above) had been cleared of the crime in 2012 but the second trial was brought after further DNA evidence was found linking him to the crime scene.

At Winchester Crown Court the prosecutor told the trial Hamlen’s DNA had been found on the rolling pin that was used to bludgeon Mrs Edmonds to death.

Hamlen had denied the murder and told police he “couldn’t remember” if he had been to the scene of the murder.

“Double Jeopardy” is an 800 year old legal principle which means someone cannot be tried twice for the same crime. The law was changed in 2003 to allow for “new and compelling evidence” to be brought.