A man accused of killing his sister-in-law has told a court he attempted to put out a fire in her home after discovering her unresponsive on the ground.

Paul Kelly-Bridle, 59, has gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court having been charged with the murder of Linda Hood, who died as a result of compression of the neck.

It is alleged that he had gone to Mrs Hood's Gorleston home on June 10, 2021, and left her for dead in the hallway before returning the next day and setting fire to the house to cover his tracks.

On Friday (December 2), Kelly-Bridle was questioned about what had happened on the two days in question.

The court heard the defence claim that Kelly-Bridle had gone round to Mrs Hood's home in Cherwell Way, Gorleston on June 10, spoke to her and left shortly afterwards.

John Hardy KC, defending, asked Kelly-Bridle what had happened when he returned later and discovered her unresponsive with "a pool of blood" alongside her head.

The defendant said: "When I went round, the door was open. I pushed it as it was already open anyway and found Linda on the floor.

"There was a fire in the front room and I tried to put it out with a pillow."

Mr Hardy asked: "When you found Linda on the floor what did you think was wrong?"

Kelly-Bridle replied: "I did not know at the time. I put my hands on her throat to get a pulse but there was not one. I felt her wrist and rubbed her hands.

"At that moment I panicked and just ran out and panicked outside."

Asked why he did not phone for an ambulance or the fire service, Kelly-Bridle said: "I do not know I just panicked."

Then asked by Mr Hardy why he had not phoned the police after discovering Mrs Hood on the floor, Kelly-Bridle said: "I was scared they would think I had done it."

The court heard Kelly-Bridle had later gone round to see a friend, Diane Boggis, but did not tell her what he had seen at Mrs Hood's home.

The court had previously heard that during a police interview, investigators asked him: "Did you kill Linda?"

He replied: "No I did not."

Kelly-Bridle, of Worcester Way, Gorleston, has denied murder and arson.

The trial continues.