Convicted double murderer 'confessed' to 1966 killing in jail

Sixty-four-year-old David Burgess, formerly of Beenham, is today (Tuesday) in court for the second day of his trial after he was accused of murdering 17-year-old Yolande Waddington (pictured), who was found dead in a ditch in Beenham on October 30, 1966.
Prosecutor John Price QC told the court yesterday that in 1968 and 1969 Mr Burgess had confessed to murdering Miss Waddington to two separate prison officers at Durham Prison, where he was serving a prison sentence for the murders of nine-year-olds Jeanette Wigmore and Jacqueline Williams in Beenham on April 17, 1967.
However, when questioned by police Mr Price said that Mr Burgess denied he had confessed to murdering Miss Waddington, saying: "You will have to prove it."
Mr Price QC told the court: “He (Burgess) told Mr Malcolm (prison officer) that in the course of the assault upon her (Miss Waddington) he personally had stabbed her with his penknife twice, once under the left breast and once in the back, which of course is exactly where she had been stabbed.”
The prosecution earlier told the court that modern DNA testing can prove that Burgess’ blood was found on a polythene ICI fertilizer sack, comb, and Miss Waddington’ white hair band, which were all found at the scene. He said the likelihood of the blood not being Mr Burgess’ was one in a billion.
Mr Price QC added that Miss Waddington was last seen alive at the Six Bells pub in Beenham shortly after 10.30pm on October 28, 1966 – two days before her body was found in a ditch near Hall Place Farm, Beenham, which is less than a mile from the pub.
The court heard how Burgess was in the Six Bells on October 28, 1966, and was seen leaving the establishment shortly after Miss Waddington left.
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