Camden New Journal by DAVID ST GEORGE Published: 26 April 2007
Top judge speaks out over murder trial’s ‘antiquity’
THE capital’s top judge has described a proposed murder trial as “a case of increasing antiquity”.
Recorder of London, Peter Beaumont, urged all parties involved in the case, including several psychiatrists, to have evidence ready for a June 4 jury hearing.
The Old Bailey heard that seven months after accused Darren John was transferred from prison to Broadmoor hospital to be mentally assessed, a psychiatrist acting for the prosecution had still not seen him.
Meanwhile, grieving relatives, friends and neighbours of popular youth project worker Amanda Cumming, are awaiting the outcome of the case.
The trial of 22-year-old John, who denies murdering girlfriend Ms Cummings, 27, a few days before Christmas 2005, was initially due to take place last October.
Jobless John is alleged to have launched a fatal knife attack on her, leaving the keen churchgoer, also known as Bentsi-Addison, in a pool of blood.
John, of Aborfield, Peckwater Street, Kentish Town, was arrested soon after Ms Cummings was found dying near her family home on the College Place estate in Camden Town.
She was later pronounced dead by doctors at University College Hospital.