Braintree murder trial: Accused friend denies killing Helen Bloomfield

Key points

• Amy Keely, 40, and Charlotte James, 29, are on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court for the murder of Helen Bloomfield, 52, in Braintree, Essex.
• Prosecutors allege the defendants attacked Bloomfield at her flat on Aetheric Road in March 2024, causing 44 injuries including stab and cut wounds.
• Bloomfield's body was not discovered until April 19, 2024, nearly a month after the alleged attack.
• Keely denied murdering Bloomfield, calling her a 'cracking girl,' and rejected witness testimony that she bragged about the killing.
• Prosecutors claim the defendants ransacked the home, smothered Bloomfield with a pillow, and ate breakfast cereals after the incident.

Background

This trial follows the discovery of Helen Bloomfield's body in her Braintree flat in April 2024. Bloomfield was described by prosecutors as a vulnerable woman who had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The case highlights the severity of the alleged attack, which involved 44 injuries, and the prolonged period before the body was found. No prior coverage of this specific case exists in the archive, but recent trials involving delayed discovery of victims and complex defense strategies provide a backdrop for understanding the legal proceedings.

Why it matters

The trial underscores the legal and ethical complexities of cases involving vulnerable victims and delayed discovery. It also highlights the role of witness testimony and defense strategies in murder trials, where credibility and motive are central to the outcome.

What to watch

The trial is expected to continue with further testimony and evidence presentation. The jury will ultimately decide the fate of Keely and James based on the evidence and arguments presented by both prosecution and defense.