Murder-accused man declines to give evidence

Jurors have seen police footage of Mr Hall being arrested

A man accused of killing a woman for her jewellery to sell for drugs has declined to give evidence at his murder trial.

Glenna Siviter, 50, was stabbed 36 times before her body was hidden beneath a sofa for four days at her home in Middlesbrough, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Andrew Hall, 46, denies murdering her and the attempted murder of two other men he is accused of stabbing.

After prosecutors closed their case, Mr Hall's lawyers said he would not be taking to the witness box.

Judge Mr Justice Nicholas Lavender asked if Mr Hall had been told jurors "may draw such inferences as appear proper from his failure" to give evidence.

Mr Hall's barrister Nicholas Lumley KC confirmed he had been so advised.

The trial, which began on 11 June, has heard Mr Hall and all three of his alleged victims were drug addicts.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC said Ms Siviter was killed at her home on Grimwood Avenue in the early hours of 11 December last year, with her body found four days later by her adult son.

Her jewellery was stolen and sold for drugs, Mr Moulson said.

Jurors were told Mr Hall and Ms Siviter had been friends since childhood and were "like brother and sister".

In the days between Ms Siviter's death and discovery of her body, Mr Hall stabbed two other men, jurors have been told.

The trial continues.