Roy Barclay appears before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court and Ipswich Crown Court charged with murder of Anita Rose, in Brantham

A 55-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.

Roy Barclay, 55, of no fixed address, appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich today, having been charged with murder last night.

He was sent straight to Ipswich Crown Court for a hearing this afternoon.

At Crown Court the next hearing was scheduled for December 12, with a provisional date for the start of the trial being May 27, 2025.

It is expected to last three weeks.

Barclay was arrested in Ipswich on Monday.

Anita, 57, was found injured and unconscious on a track road, off Rectory Lane, by a cyclist at about 6.25am on July 24, having left her house at 5am to walk her dog, Bruce.

She was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half. Her jacket was stolen. Bruce’s lead was also wrapped around her leg.

She had suffered injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where she died four days later, on July 28.