LEICESTER HOARDER FATHER CONVICTED OVER WOMAN'S DEATH
A court found Philip and Ralph Burdett guilty of being extreme hoarders who abandoned Julie Burdett, aged 61, resulting in her suffering serious injuries.Julie was found dead in her Leicester home on 15 January 2019, after living amid extreme dirt and sustaining significant pressure wounds.
Philip, aged 59, faced a conviction for gross negligence manslaughter, while her 93-year-old father Ralph was cleared of that charge but convicted of neglecting a vulnerable adult that led to her death.
Ralph claimed he was unaware of his daughter’s deteriorating condition and chose not to seek outside help because he did not wish to go against her wishes.
The trial revealed Julie’s weight was roughly 4 stone 10 pounds (about 30 kilograms) when she died, and her injuries included severe ulcerations from neglect.
Prosecutors described the neglect as rudimentary, pointing out that the defendants failed to carry out basic care such as cleaning her, moving her, providing proper nutrition, or seeking medical assistance—actions that ultimately caused her prolonged suffering and death.
Sentencing has been postponed while pre-sentence reports are prepared.
