Woman killed veteran by shoving sock down throat

Anne-Marie Burrowes, 52, was found guilty of murdering her friend

A woman who assaulted her Navy veteran friend before forcing a sock down his throat has been found guilty of murder.

Anne-Marie Burrowes, 53, attacked Paul Knowles, 56, at his Peterborough home and left his body for four days before calling police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said.

Burrowes, of Bretton, claimed self-defence, saying Mr Knowles had come at her with a bottle, but she was found guilty of murder by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court.

She is due to be sentenced next week.

'No intention than to kill'

Paul Knowles spent 22 years and one day in the Royal Navy, his family said

Burrowes and Mr Knowles would regularly meet at the latter's flat on Farriers Court in Woodston to drink alcohol, but on 26 October things turned violent and she killed her friend, police said.

Burrowes left the scene, taking Mr Knowles' bank card with her and she used it at a shop.

After first calling police, she claimed to be having recurring nightmares and gave no other details.

However, following a second call, officers found Mr Knowles' body and discovered he had significant injuries to his face, eyes and neck. A sock had been lodged in the back of his throat, blocking his airway.

Burrowes, who lived in Ellindon in Bretton, was tracked down the following day at a property on Mountbatten Way in Ravensthorpe.

The murder happened on Farriers Court, close to the Oundle Road in Woodston

Det Insp Richard Stott, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit, said: "This is a horrific and tragic case where a man has lost his life after being violently assaulted and having a sock forced into his throat.

"Burrowes' actions showed there was no other intention than to kill him.

"Our thoughts remain with Paul's son, family and friends at this difficult time, and we hope this conviction provides some sense of justice for them."

Mr Knowles' son, Nathan Naylor, previously paid an emotional tribute to his "hero" father, who was known as Knobby.