Delia Hughes Murder: Man Remanded In Custody

A man was remanded in custody today charged with the murder of an 85-year-old pensioner found bludgeoned to death in her home.

Unemployed Jamie Lee Boult, 24, of Chessel Crescent, Southampton, made a short appearance at the city's magistrates' court accused of the killing of Delia Hughes. 

Mrs Hughes' body was discovered by relatives in her Atlantic Close home in Ocean Village, Southampton, on August 18. 

The court was told that Boult is alleged to have entered Mrs Hughes' ground-floor flat and repeatedly hit her with a lump hammer. 

He is also charged with the aggravated burglary of a neighbour's home on August 14. 

District judge Lorraine Morgan remanded Boult, who was dressed in a blue sweatshirt, in custody and sent the case for a preliminary hearing at Winchester Crown Court on September 20. 

Mrs Hughes was originally from Blackpool in Lancashire but had lived in Southampton for the past 17 years. 

Before she retired, she had worked as a supervisor for Littlewoods.