Jillian murder case accused denies charge

ACCUSED Mark Smith has denied murdering a blind woman and trying to kill two other people.

Smith, of Tennyson Terrace, North Shields, is alleged to have killed 38-year-old Jillian Grant between December 21 and 26.

He is further accused of the attempted murder of Graham Smith and Linda Smith on Christmas Day.

In a brief hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, during which he appeared on a video-link from prison, Smith denied all the charges.

The 41-year-old will stand trial in June.

Judge Paul Sloan QC told him: “I’m going to adjourn your case to a further case management hearing. That will be on May 31.

“Pending that hearing, you will be remanded in custody.

“I’ve no doubt your legal team will be through to see you before that date.”

The body of 38-year-old Jillian was found in North Shields on Christmas Day.

Emergency services were called to a property on Tennyson Terrace, at around 1.30pm and they discovered Jillian’s body.

The family of Jillian, who was blind and looked after by carers, have previously paid tribute to the “loving” and “deeply-loved” woman from York Court, in Wallsend.

They said: “Jillian was the kind of person who would stop and have a chat with a stranger in the street.

“She was friendly, loving and full of life; it was a genuine pleasure to be around her.

“Jillian also had an independent spirit, she didn’t let blindness stand in her way.”