A SECOND jury has begun to hear the case against a mentally ill woman who is accused of murdering a one eyed alcoholic by setting him on fire in his Catford flat.

After being sworn in at the Old Bailey this morning, Judge Roger Chappell explained to the five men and seven women that the first jury was discharged because one of the jurors worked at the hospital relevant to the case.

Barrister David Fisher then opened the case for the prosecution against Patricia Malcolm, of Stanstead Road, Catford.

The 53-year-old 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, died five days later in hospital.

Addressing the jury, Mr Fisher said: “This caused him severe burns and to inhale smoke and fumes, and he died from that fire attack on the 9th of February 2010.

“The prosecution suggest to you that Patricia Malcolm was culpable for his death.”

The court heard how Malcolm is also standing trial for perverting the course of justice.

After the fire she was arrested on suspicion of arson with the intent to endanger life and, after being released on bail, she allegedly attempted to force her way into her hostel room, which was cordoned off and being treated as a crime scene.

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 yesterday.

Mr Fisher also outlined some personal details about both Malcolm and Mr Hancock.

Malcolm was described as being an unemployed woman who begged people for money occasionally and suffered from mental health problems, which sometimes made her behaviour unpredictable.

Mr Hancock was also unemployed and drank to excess, particularly whiskey.

He was said to enjoy pornography, and his ground floor flat was very untidy.

He had lost one of his eyes in an earlier injury not connected to the alleged attack by Malcolm.

The trial continues.