HARTLEPOOL COCAINE ADDICT JAILED FOR LIFE FOR KILLING FOSTER MOTHER
Gareth Dack, a man addicted to cocaine, was found guilty of murdering Norma Bell, a 79-year-old woman known for fostering over 50 children.Norma Bell was discovered dead in her residence on Westbourne Road in Hartlepool, having been strangled and subsequently set on fire by Dack in April.
The court heard that Dack ransacked her home, stole a boxed television and £700, and used her phone to contact sex chat lines.
Despite denying the allegations, DNA evidence tied him to the crime scene.
During the trial, Mrs Justice Whipple described Dack’s killing of Norma Bell as a premeditated act committed 'in cold blood' while she was vulnerable in her own home.
She sentenced him to at least 33 years in prison, condemning his actions as a brutal murder in the safety of her refuge and noting that he attempted to cover his tracks by burning her house.
A few days prior, Dack had borrowed money from Mrs Bell and claimed he was not responsible for her death, praising her as a 'wonderful woman.' Her family expressed profound grief, highlighting her big-hearted nature and lifelong commitment to fostering children.
Investigations revealed that Dack intentionally set the fire to destroy evidence and refused to accept responsibility even once DNA evidence proved his guilt.
