Jurors in the murder trial of David McCabe were sent home this afternoon after their first day considering verdicts.
The jury retired to begin its deliberations this morning and will continue its discussions tomorrow at Teesside Crown Court.
McCabe, 32, denies the murder of disabled mum-of-two Teresa Ryan on the night of July 9 last year.
He is accused of setting a fatal fire in her home on Warton Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough moments after he burgled the property.
Ms Ryan, who had Huntington’s disease, died from smoke inhalation in the fire hours after she celebrated her 50th birthday.
McCabe, of Barrington Crescent, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, has admitted burgling her home the day before and the day of her death.
The prosecution said McCabe entered the house on July 9 and robbed her handbag, snapping its strap in a struggle.
It was alleged he set fire to her bed in the dining room to destroy evidence and left her unconscious and helpless, knowing she would die in the fire.
McCabe claimed the fire must have started accidentally after he left the home, the jury was told.
He denied setting any fire, causing Ms Ryan to fall or having any confrontation with her.
A heroin addict for about 15 years, he admitted he went into her home to steal when he had no drugs or money.
He said he heard a toilet flush, panicked, grabbed her handbag from a kitchen door and fled.
McCabe took from the bag three packets of cigarettes, two of which he sold, £110 cash and a phone which he used to buy drugs.
He admitted burgling her home the day before the fire, stealing her television which he sold for £25 before overdosing on diazepam tablets.
The defendant denied “constantly preying” on Ms Ryan as a “soft touch”, hanging around her home or once barging in.
He also denied that he had talked of setting a fire or of Ms Ryan falling or hurting herself.
Fire investigators disagreed over the cause of the fire, which started near the foot of Ms Ryan’s bed, away from where she was found on the sofa.
It started by a “human act”, not an electrical cause, it was said.
One investigator believed it was most likely “deliberate ignition”, while another said it was not possible to say whether it was started deliberately or accidentally.
Proceeding
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