Sarah Brierley: Sheffield man accused of murdering ex-flatmate says he was asleep at time of attack

A man accused of murdering his former Sheffield flatmate claims to have been asleep around the time she is believed to have been killed, a jury has been told.

David Scott, aged 40, and Zoe Clark, 38, are currently on trial at Sheffield Crown Court, accused of murdering their former flatmate, Sarah Brierley, in February 2023, an offence both defendants have pleaded not guilty to. 

The two defendants were in a relationship at the time of Sarah’s death, and had also been living with her in the weeks running up to it, the court heard. All three were habitual users of Class A drugs, the court has heard. 

Police discovered 49-year-old Sarah’s body at her flat in Skelton Close, Woodhouse, Sheffield, with ‘serious trauma to her head’ at just after 8am on February 20, 2023, but the extent of ‘decomposition’ suggests she is likely to have died some days earlier, the jury of seven women and five men have previously been told.

A Home Office pathologist who examined Sarah's body determined she had suffered severe injuries to her head, which had fractured the skull, and were consistent with being caused by multiple blows - at least five - with a blunt weapon inflicted with severe force.

Prosecutor David Brooke KC has previously told jurors that it is believed Ms Brierley died between 2.46am and 1.08pm on February 14, 2023. The earlier time represents the time at which Ms Brierley’s friend, Darren Turner, was captured on CCTV leaving her flat. The later time refers to the timestamp on a photograph seemingly showing Ms Brierley’s dead body, with a bin bag over her head. 

The defence case

Summarising the defendants’ defence case yesterday (October 31, 2023), Mr Justice Kerr said Mr Scott told jurors during the course of his evidence that he was not the one to murder Ms Brierley, and was asleep at the time the killing is believed to have happened. 

Mr Scott, of Abbeyfield Road, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, was staying with two friends, who lived a street over from Ms Brierley at Skelton Drive in Woodhouse. 

The court was also told that Mr Scott claimed he had gone back to Ms Breirley’s flat on the evening before she is believed to have been killed, along with her and her friend Darren Turner; but only remained there for around an hour because he knew he 'couldn’t be there late' when he was staying with friends. 

Prior to going back to Ms Breirley’s flat, Mr Scott said he had bumped into Ms Brierley and Mr Turner when he was looking for 'cigarette butts to smoke crack'.  

Mr Justice Kerr summarised the evidence provided to the court by Mr Turner, in which he  stated that he left Ms Brierley’s flat at around 2.56am, leaving her there alone with Mr Scott. Mr Turner was subsequently picked up on CCTV a short time later, walking away from Ms Brierley's flat with his dog, the court heard.  

Mr Scott’s contradictory account, the court heard, was that he left Ms Brierley’s flat, leaving her with Mr Turner, at around 10.30pm, returned to the Skelton Drive flat where he was staying, took his medication and fell into a 'deep sleep' at around midnight. He said he awoke briefly at 7am, by which time, Ms Clark had returned, and fell back asleep after that until around 10am. After awaking he spent the following day 'scoring' drugs and 'partying.'

Mr Scott told jurors the last time he had been in Ms Brierley’s flat was the evening before she had died. 

He was asked about whether he was one of two figures seen on CCTV at a cashpoint withdrawing £10 from Ms Brierley’s account at 12.08am, but denied it was him. 

Ms Clark, of Skelton Lane, Woodhouse, Sheffield has not given evidence, but acknowledged through her legal counsel, that she was one of the two figures seen accessing the cashpoint, and claimed Mr Scott was the other one. The court has previously been told that Ms Clark had her benefits paid into Ms Brierley’s bank account, and had been using the account shortly before her death.

The prosecution has previously said that ‘money’ was among the issues in the background for Ms Brierley and the two defendants. Another was Ms Brierley’s feelings for Ms Clark, which she had expressed through a 'love letter'. 

Mr Scott’s jealousy, arising from Ms Brierley’s feeling for Ms Clark, has been suggested as a possible motive for the murder, however Mr Scott has denied harbouring such emotions.

On Ms Clark’s behalf, the jury has also been told that there is no evidence that she was present at the time of Ms Brierley’s murder.