Woman denies murder of boxer
ACCUSED APPEARS IN COURT FROM PRISON TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO CHARGE
A WOMAN has denied murdering a man at a house in Burton after appearing in court yesterday.
Kayley Mahood, 29, entered a formal not guilty plea during an appearance at Stafford Crown Court via video link from HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire.
Mahood, of Rosliston Road, Stapenhill, is alleged to have murdered Oliver O’toole on July 25.
He was pronounced dead at the scene after officers were called to a residential address in Rosliston Road.
Mahood was remanded in custody and was told that a trial, estimated to last 10 days, will begin on January 10 next year.
Floral tributes were left in Rosliston Road following Mr O’toole’s death. Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke also had a T-shirt made in honour of the 31-year-old after knowing him through Burton Amateur Boxing Club.
The super heavyweight even dedicated his first win of the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo to Mr O’toole, after defeating Ukrainian Tsotne Rogava.
The Olympian wrote on Facebook: “Since I found out about the tragic loss of Oliver O’toole on the weekend it really has been on my mind a lot.
“I remember walking into Burton Boxing Club as a kid and he was one of the elite at the time registered and boxing often. From the day I met him he was very proud of his family’s Irish heritage.
“As the years went on and Olly started boxing less I still remembered him as the lad I first seen ripped to shreds, pounding the bag, leaving a dent in it while making the maddest noise. A very popular man around Burton.
“It was only right to ask one of the Irish boxing team’s national coaches Johnny Conlan [to make] a T-shirt to pay my respects to him.
“From myself and everyone at Burton Amateur Boxing Club rest in peace Olly ‘fighting Irish.’”