Man accused of killing has murder conviction, jury hears

Former Beenham man David Burgess, aged 64, was in court this morning wearing a grey jumper and dark trousers, charged with the murder of 17-year-old Yolande Waddington (pictured), who was found dead in a ditch in Beenham on October 30, 1966.
In the prosecution’s opening statement, delivered by John Price QC, the court heard how in 1967 Mr Burgess was convicted for the murders of two nine-year-old Beenham girls, Jeanette Wigmore and Jacqueline Williams, who were killed on April 17, 1967.
Mr Price said that despite a thorough investigation by the police following Miss Waddington’s death, which included taking blood samples from every man aged between 15 and 50 in the village, as well as other suspects, the forensic evidence at the time was not conclusive.
However, he said modern testing can prove that Mr Burgess’ blood was found on a sack, a 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.
The jury was told 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 Mr Burgess was in the Six Bells on October 28, 1966, and was seen leaving the establishment shortly after Miss Waddington left.
The trial continues this afternoon
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