Man murdered woman for her jewellery - prosecutors

Glenna Siviter was killed at her home on Grimwood Avenue in Middlesbrough

A man murdered a woman so he could steal her jewellery to sell for drugs, a court has heard.

Glenna Siviter, 50, was stabbed 36 times and then concealed beneath a sofa at her home in Middlesbrough in December, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Her body was found four days later by her son, when it was also discovered that passports and an ornamental elephant were missing, prosecutors said.

Andrew Hall, 46, of Thorntree Avenue in Middlesbrough, denies murdering Ms Siviter and the attempted murder of and attempted grievous bodily harm of two other people.

Opening the case to jurors, prosecutor Peter Moulson KC said Mr Hall committed the stabbings against a "background of drug taking and addiction".

He said CCTV showed a man going to Ms Siviter's home on Grimwood Avenue in Brambles Farm at about 03:00 GMT on 11 December.

Mr Moulson said that Mr Hall, who knew Ms Siviter, killed her shortly afterwards.

Four days later, Ms Siviter's son went to her locked home and, after using his key to enter, found her body lying face down beneath a sofa in the living room, the court heard.

Pathologists found she had suffered a number of injuries including 36 stab wounds to her head, neck, torso and upper limbs.

Andrew Hall is on trial for murder at Newcastle Crown Court

Her jewellery was either sold at a pawnbrokers or exchanged directly for drugs, Mr Moulson said.

He also said that the elephant ornament was discovered discarded near a bus stop and the passports found with Mr Hall when he was arrested.

On 13 December, Mr Hall was at a friend's home in Stainsby Road smoking crack cocaine, the court heard.

His friend awoke to find the defendant armed with two "big" kitchen knives attempting to stab him, Mr Moulson said.

The man later told police it was as if Mr Hall was aiming for his heart and head while saying he would "kill" him.

The man, a former boxer, was able to fight off Mr Hall who then fled.

On 15 December, Mr Hall was a passenger in another friend's car on their way back from collecting a methadone prescription, the court heard.

After pulling up outside the friend's house on Laycock Street, Mr Hall launched another attack with two knives leaving the man with heavily bleeding wounds to his head and neck, Mr Moulson said.

Mr Hall then drove off in the man's car but was arrested a short while later, the prosecutor said.

He made no reply to all questions in his police interview, Mr Moulson said.

The trial continues.