Man accused of murder left victim's city flat 'at speed'

Theodore Lynch has gone on trial for the murder of Leslie Smith, 63, whose body was found in his flat in Suffolk Square, Norwich.Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Norwich Crown Court has heard Lynch had earlier gone up to Mr Smith's second floor flat to give him money to buy drugs for him.

A row later followed after Lynch was told the victim had spent the money and smoked the drugs.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Although the confrontation is understood to have happened on October 5, 2021, Mr Smith's body was not discovered until almost two weeks later when neighbours reported a "bad smell" to council housing officers.

Police at Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Newsquest)The jury of eight women and four men were taken through CCTV evidence which showed Smith attending the Suffolk Square flats complex where Mr Smith lived on the day of the alleged incident.

Jurors were taken through extracts of CCTV, including segments which showed Lynch at the top of the stairwell in Mr Smith's block shortly after 7pm on October 5.

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Stephen Rose KC, prosecuting, said footage at 7.33pm then picks up the defendant running along the second floor balcony away from Mr Smith's flat before entering the stairwell and heading down the stairs "at some speed".

At the bottom of the stairs Lynch is caught "pressing somewhat frantically the exit button" before leaving and running to get away from Suffolk Square.

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Other CCTV segments show Lynch heading away from the Suffolk Square area along Oxford Street and Unthank Road before later that evening he is seen buying items at Lidl on Drayton Road.

He is last seen entering flats at Markham Tower, Mile Cross, at about 9.50pm on October 5.

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Jurors also heard a tag Mr Smith had to wear as part of an electronically-monitored curfew following his release from prison showed he had been "in and out of his property on a number of occasions" during the day on October 5.

He returned at 7.18pm and the tag did not leave the property again until October 17 - when Mr Smith's body was removed.

Lynch, of no fixed address, denies murder.

The trial continues.