A MENTALLY ill woman accused of murdering a one eyed alcoholic by setting him on fire will face a retrial.
Patricia Malcolm, of Stanstead Road, Catford, has been on trial at the Old Bailey since February 15.
Today (March 7) a jury could not reach a verdict on a murder charge and found the 53-year-old not guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The court heard that Malcolm allegedly poured a flammable liquid on Frank Hancock before setting him on fire in his flat on February 4 last year.
Mr Hancock, aged 63, of Pattenden Road, Catford, died five days later in hospital.
Jurors also heard that when police searched Malcolm’s room after her arrest, Mr Hancock’s post office account card was in her wallet.
She pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and one count of theft in relation to the cards.
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