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Bastards
Bastards
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow (white trousers) outside Boots in Fore Street
Marc Riley taking out cash at the Natwest cashpoint on January 20, 2009
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow (left) in The Shires shopping centre
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow in The Shires shopping centre
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow outside Tesco Extra in County Way on January 17, 2009
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow withdrawing cash from Antonietta Guarino's bank account,
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow shopping inside Tesco Extra in County Way on January 17,
2009
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstow inside Tesco Extra in County Way on January 17, 2009
Marc Riley after having bought shopping with Mrs Guarino's money. He had already murdered her
at this point.
The brother of the man accused of murdering Antonietta Guarino told a court today that David
Carr-Burstow phoned him the day after the attack was meant to have taken place and confessed
that he had hit a 'man' over the head with a hammer and dumped his body in the river.
Accused: David Carr-Burstow
Reginald Potter, 34, said his half brother Carr-Burstow called him on his mobile on the morning of
January 9 and told him what had happened the night before.
"He said he had got into a fight last night with a bloke," he told Bristol Crown Court.
"He said he hit him on the head with a hammer and threw his body into the river."
Asked whether he believed him, Potter said he thought he had been pulling his leg at the time.
Victim: Anonietta Guarino
Carr-Burstow went on to ask his brother whether he wanted to buy a Toyota Yaris from him and
then put Marc Riley on the line to confirm what registration the car was.
Potter, a banger racing enthusiast, told him he would not be able to take the car if there was no
A few days later Carr-Burstow called again saying he could not find the logbook and MOT
certificate and asked his brother how to get the car scrapped.
Potter told him he would not be able to unless he had the documents for the car.
He explained to the court that Carr-Burstow was born in Norfolk, one of seven children, but his
father had died when he was six-month-old.
He agreed with defence barrister Jane Miller when she described him as 'easily led' and said he
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By Charley Morgan
A close friend of the gay couple accused of murdering Antonietta Guarino told a jury today how
one of them, David Carr-Burstow, said his partner had killed his landlady to prove his love.
Stephen Gurner, who lived in a flat in Orchard Court in Trowbridge at the time of Mrs Guarino's
murder in January, said Carr-Burstow, 20, who denies murder and is on trial at Bristol Crown
Court, took him out for a drive in Mrs Guarino's silver Toyota Yaris on the evening of January 8, the
He told the court Carr-Burstow pulled into a pub car park and said he needed to get something off
his chest.
"He told me he wanted to tell me something and basically blurted out that him and Marc had killed
"I remember him saying that him and Marc had had an argument and he was joking around and
said to Marc 'go downstairs and hit the landlady over the head with a hammer' and Marc did it."
Prosecutor Martin Meeke asked him if he knew why he had asked Riley to do that.
"I can remember he said that Marc had shouted up stairs and told Dave to come and have a look
at what he had done and Dave said there was blood on the floor and he helped Marc put the body
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By Charley Morgan
The jury in the Antonietta Guarino murder trial today heard how blood spatters found in the
kitchen of her home were consistent with someone being struck more than once.
Rebecca Mayfield, a forensic scientist who examined items from Mrs Guarino's home in Osborne
Road, Trowbridge, said the blood found in the kitchen matched Mrs Guarino's DNA.
She also said that drops of blood matching the DNA of David Carr-Burstow, 20, who is on trial after
denying murdering the 61-year-old Italian-born grandmother, were found in the hallway and below
Two blood-stained pillow cases, partly burned, found underneath a bird bath in the garden
Shanley's scrapyard in Trowbridge and on a duvet cover and pillowcase found dumped in a pond in
front of the Virgin Mobile building on the White Horse Industrial Estate.
Miss Mayfield explained that blood spatter occurred if force is applied through punching or kicking,
which causes the blood to break up into small pieces, travelling through the air and landing in
spots.
She said: "In my opinion, the overall distribution of blood spatter in the kitchen indicates that
Antonietta Guarino...had been bleeding in this area, or an item heavily stained with her blood from
Miss Mayfield also concluded Mrs Guarino was bleeding while in the Toyota Yaris.
Clare Stangoe, who carried out chemical testing at Mrs Guarino's home, found blood traces in
multiple locations including the kitchen, dining room and a downstairs shower room.
She said: "In my opinion the reactions indicate that blood has been wiped or cleaned from the
She also found diluted blood on a worktop by the patio doors, as well as carpet, skirting board and
wall in the dining room, and concluded that blood traces in the downstairs shower room were
DNA belonging to Marc Riley, who admits murdering his landlady, were found on pillowcases from
The jury also heard this morning from financial investigator Andrew Stonall, of Wiltshire Police,
He discovered that cash had not been withdrawn from the account before January 15, but regular
withdrawals were made after this date. The card allowed for a maximum of 250 cash to be
Among the transactions made on Mrs Guarino's card after her death was 123.95 on a range of
sex toys for a website called forafters,co.uk, including amyl nitrate liquid, commonly called
By Charley Morgan
Injuries inflicted on Trowbridge grandmother Antonietta Guarino were so severe they were of the
type normally only found on victims of serious road traffic collisions, a court heard yesterday.
Prosecutor Martin Meeke QC said Mrs Guarino, 61, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer at her
Her lodger Marc Riley, 24, admits murder while his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, denies the
The jury at Carr-Burstow's trial heard yesterday afternoon how after killing Mrs Guarino, the two
then wrapped her body in a shower curtain, tied it up with electrical cable and bundled it into her
own car before driving to the River Avon near Bradford on Avon and dumping it.
It was found almost seven weeks later by Bradford on Avon resident Ron Lutman, whose house
As Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Huw White, who examined Mrs Guarino's body, took the
stand at Bristol Crown Court yesterday afternoon, Mrs Guarino's family were ushered out of the
He told the court room that he found 12 separate lacerations on her head, some of which were
complex and branching, meaning she had been hit more than once in the same spot.
"One was a circular area of fracturing - that circular shape is consistent with the use of an object
such as a hammer.
"Another was a hinged fracture going from one side of the skull to the other.
"A hinge fracture requires a lot of force, it's the sort of thing you usually find in a road traffic
collision.
By Charley Morgan
The lodger of Antonietta Guarino moved his boyfriend into her house without her permission and
Marc Riley, 24, who admitted murdering the 61 year old Italian-born Mrs Guarino yesterday, had
asked her if his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, could move in, but was told no.
Yesterday Bristol Crown Court was told that Carr-Burstow stayed with Riley at Mrs Guarino's home
in Osborne Road over Christmas and after she had returned from visiting family over the festive
period, he would climb into Riley's bedroom through the window so she would not notice.
Carr-Burstow denies murder, but has admitted helping Riley dump her body in the River Avon.
When Mrs Guarino returned after Christmas, she told friends she thought Riley had been having
friends over.
Mrs Guarino's daughter Giulietta Bogacz, 35, took the stand today.
She told the court: "She phoned me up a couple of days after she had been home after Christmas
and told me Marc had taken her to one side and said he wasn't happy with where his boyfriend
was living.
"He wanted his boyfriend to move into her house with them. I said no, she shouldn't do that."
Martin Meeke QC asked her if she seemed inclined to allow Carr-Burstow to move in. Mrs Bogacz
She said it had nothing to do with Marc's sexuality, she was not old-fashioned, she simply did not
"She told him they couldn't move in there together and suggested he start to look for a place
Mrs Guarino also mentioned to her friend David West on January 7 that she thought Riley had been
In a statement to police he said: "While we were chatting, she mentioned again that Marc was
"She mentioned this before and after Christmas to me and I could see it was grating on her. She
didn't like it, it wasn't part of the arrangement. She was very serious about it.
"I got the feeling that something with the lodger Marc Riley had gone wrong. She also believed her
Another friend, Pamela Wescott, from Calne, told the court that Mrs Guarino had confided in her
that Riley, who worked for Virgin Mobile in Trowbridge, had not been paying his rent.
"She did say that she was having problems," she said. "He was making excuses and not paying his
full rent."
A smirking David Carr-Burstow was asked in court today what he meant when he told his boyfriend
examination at Bristol Crown Court. Carr-Burstow, who is on trial after denying murdering 61-
year-old Antonietta Guarino, said: "I only meant it as a joke. It probably meant go and do it."
As he stood smirking in the dock, Mr Meeke asked him what was funny.
Mr Meeke also questioned whether Carr-Burstow really was scared of Riley, as he told the court
He asked why, when on two occasions previously Riley had assaulted Carr-Burstow, he had made a
Mr Meeke said: "You weren't too scared to grass him up to the police then, were you?"
Mr Meeke asked Carr-Burstow why, when he had been sick upon first seeing Mrs Guarino's body as
he said in evidence, he then managed to carry the body across fields and dump it in the river.
He said: "You weren't so upset that you didn't feel like a pint at 11pm? How about by the time you
Jane Miller, QC, defence, asked Carr-Burstow why he had helped Riley clean up the blood from the
house.
Carr-Burstow said: "I didn't want to help but he told me to ****ing help him."
Miss Miller asked who signed Mrs Guarino's bank cards and whose idea it was to use them.
Carr-Burstow replied: "Marc found them, it was Marc's idea to look for the pin numbers, I helped
him look
Defendant David Carr-Burstow took the stand at Bristol Crown Court today to tell the jury how he
only helped his boyfriend dispose of Antonietta Guarino's body because he was scared of him.
David Carr-Burstow said he was "scared" of his boyfriend
Carr-Burstow, 20, who denies murder, said on the day of 61-year-old Mrs Guarino's murder, he and
When asked why he had said that Carr-Burstow said that a couple of nights before they had been
at Riley's brother's house and Riley had said, 'I'm going to hit my landlady.'
Carr-Burstow denied ever having told Riley to hit Mrs Guarino over the head with a hammer to
Carr-Burstow became confused when describing the scene that met him when he first came
downstairs. Initially, he said he saw Mrs Guarino wrapped in a shower curtain lying on the kitchen
floor, but later admitted that he himself wrapped her in the shower curtain.
He denied telling Stephen Gurner that he and Riley had killed Mrs Guarino and he denied telling his
brother that he had got into a fight with a man and hit him over the head with a hammer.
Riley has admitted murder and both defendants have admitted a charge of obstructing a coroner.
The detective in charge of investigating the murder of Trowbridge grandmother Antonietta Guarino
has told a jury how one of the accused made a confession to him as they stood at the spot where
David Carr-Burstow
Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher told the jury at Bristol Crown Court this morning, how
David Carr-Burstow, 20, who denies murder, revealed to him that Mrs Guarino's body was still
'twitching' when he came downstairs, after she was attacked with a hammer by his boyfriend Marc
Riley, 24, who was Mrs Guarino's lodger, has admitted her murder.
Carr-Burstow made the unsolicited comment to Det Supt Fulcher while on the banks of the River
Avon.
Det Supt Fulcher had taken him there so he could show them where he and Riley had dumped Mrs
Guarino's body.
Prosecutor Martin Meeke asked Det Supt Fulcher to give his account of event when he took the
stand this morning.
Det Supt Fulcher said: "He (Carr-Burstow) said to me that when he first saw Antonietta having
come downstairs, she was twitching and he said: 'I grabbed the shower curtain and wrapped her in
it'."
Carr-Burstow also confirmed to Det Supt Fulcher that the body hadn't been weighed down, but had
been wrapped in a shower curtain and bound at both ends with electrical wire.
The jury was also shown CCTV footage from Trowbridge town centre on six occasions in January,
showing Riley withdrawing money from cashpoints using Mrs Guarino's bank card accompanied by
Carr-Burstow.
Dawn Burstow, who lives in Harleston in Norfolk, told the court her son, David Carr-Burstow, 20,
Carr-Burstow denies murdering Mrs Guarino. His boyfriend Marc Riley, 24, admitted the charge at
Mrs Burstow told Marcus Tregilgas-Davey, defending, that her 'Little David' was the sixth of her
seven children and his father had died when he was just six-months-old.
Asked what he was like at school she said: "His development was very, very slow. He couldn't hold
a pencil or pen to write with properly until he was about 12. He couldn't cut his food up himself."
She said he had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger's
Syndrome and Tourette's Syndrome, meaning he was very hyperactive, did not show a lot of
As a result of his ADHD he was prescribed the drug Ritalin and was taught in a special needs
Mrs Burstow added: "David was always bullied and picked on and used to do things the other
He also made things up, she said, and once told police he had carried out an arson near his home
She said he came back from a school trip and told her he had flown a helicopter after taking it to
She sad: "He exaggerates things to try and be like other people. He makes up stories."
However, she said he also had the ability to remember certain things, such as sequences on fruit
machines.
Mrs Burstow broke down in tears as she described a visit she had from her son and Marc Riley in
Spring of last year and said Riley was possessive of her son, following him around wherever he
went.
After Carr-Burstow and Riley had got back together, she said her son called her to say he was
spending Christmas with Riley as he had asked his landlady if he could stay there while she was
away.
Later he called to say Marc had asked his landlady if he could move in and she had sad yes.
Mr Tregilgas-Davey asked her to sum up her son in a nutshell and she replied: "David is a child in
A lodger who beat his landlady to death with a hammer at her home in Trowbridge, then along
with his boyfriend dumped her body in the River Avon, has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years.
Marc Riley, who admitted murder, refused to leave his cell to attend the sentencing hearing at
savagely attacked Mrs Guarino, 61, in the kitchen of her home in Osborne Road, on January 8.
Then along with his boyfriend, David Carr-Burstow, 20, who was cleared by a jury of murder but
sentenced to four years in jail after admitting obstructing a coroner, they wrapped her body up in a
shower curtain, secured it with electrical cables, and dumped it in the River Avon. It wasn't found
until a month later, downstream of the weir at Greenland Mills in Bradford on Avon.
Carr-Burstow could be freed from prison in less than a year. He will serve half of his four year
sentence in a Young Offenders' Institution, before being released on licence, but he has already
Before sentencing, the court was told how both defendants had previous convictions.
Riley was given a police caution in April 2008 for hitting Carr-Burstow at a fair in Wiltshire. The
pair had struck up a relationship the same year after meeting at the Amber Foundation in
Carr-Burstow has a string of previous offences, including three counts of attempted theft, burglary,
Ignatius Hughes, defending Riley, said: "He still finds it difficult to face the enormity of what he
did."
Jane Miller, defending Carr-Burstow, said he accepted his behaviour was nothing short of wicked.
David Carr-Burstow was sentenced to four years
Judge Crowther, before sentencing Carr-Burstow, said: "What you did was to give direct help to
Marc Riley, in a way your own counsel has accepted was wicked in itself and callous and cruel on
"And that has been made particularly apparent to me in the impact statements that I have read."
On hearing the sentencing, Mrs Guarino's daughter Giulietta, 35, burst into tears, and at least one
Judge Crowther said Riley would be sentenced for murder, as the charge of obstructing a coroner,
He said other aggravating features of the murder included the fact Mrs Guarino was in poor health,
the fact she was subjected to a 'sudden, violent and overwhelming attack' and that Riley was in a
After sentencing, Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who was leading the case for Wiltshire
"I feel for Antonietta Guarino's family who have gone through a very stressful time. We thought we
had a compelling case and there's no question that the activity of Riley and Carr-Burstow was
"After Antonietta was murdered, they systematically stole her property, continued to steal her
money and then disposed of her body in the most undignified fashion.
"I am pleased, at least, that we were able to find Antonietta's body and give her some dignity in
death and bring these defendants to trial.
"Clearly Riley has admitted his part in the offence and both defendants acknowledge their part in
District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wiltshire, Nicola Haywood, said the
This was a difficult case as the evidence surrounding David Carr-Burstow was extremely
The investigation by Wiltshire Police was very thorough and we are pleased that the weight of
evidence against Marc Riley resulted in him pleading guilty to murder and obstructing a coroner.
David Carr-Burstow
He said Carr-Burstow, who denies murdering the 61-year-old Trowbridge grandmother, must have
known that Mrs Guarino would not allow him to live in her house with his boyfriend Marc Riley,
otherwise he would not have climbed in through the window, as he told police he did.
He suggested that Mrs Guarino had overheard he and Riley's argument and she had told Carr-
Burstow to leave, so they had killed her in order to carry on living in her house together.
"As soon as Mrs Guarino went to her family for Christmas you moved in, didn't you?" he said.
"Then why didn't you move in before she left?" Mr Meeke replied.
Mr Meeke asked why then, when Mrs Guarino returned on January 3, had she not bumped into
Carr-Burstow at the house and why had he continued to enter through the window.
"I suggest there's nothing very much wrong with your memory Mr Carr-Burstow except when it
suits you and that you pretend you can't remember," Mr Meeke said.
He asked Carr-Burstow why he did not ask Riley what had happened when he first saw Mrs
Guarino lying in the kitchen in a pool of blood, and suggested it was because he either already
knew because he had asked him to kill her, or he had helped him to do it.
"I was shocked. I didn't know what had happened," Carr-Burstow said.
Two gay lovers from Wiltshire murdered a frail Italian landlady and threw her body in a river before
using her money to buy groceries, CDs and sex toys, a Court has heard.
David Carr-Burstow, 19, and Mark Riley, 24, were charged with murdering Antonietta Guarino, 61,
after her body was found in the River Avon on February 23, Bristol Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Martin Meeke told a jury that Mrs Guarinos lodger Riley had pleaded guilty to murder.
The jury was told both Riley and his boyfriend Carr-Burstow admitted a charge of obstructing a
But Carr-Burstow, who was living with Riley in Mrs Guarinos home in Osborne Road, Trowbridge,
at the time of the alleged attack, denies murder and his trial was opened yesterday.
Antonietta Guarino
In his opening statement, Mr Meeke said: On January 8, Antonietta Guarino was beaten to death
When she was dead or dying, her body was wrapped in a shower curtain, it was tied with
electrical cable. The body was then put in her own car, driven to the River Avon and then put in the
river.
The jury heard that Mrs Guarino took Riley in as a lodger in October 2008. Mr Meeke said when
Mrs Guarino was asked by Riley if Carr-Burstow could move in, she refused.
Despite this, Mr Meeke said, Carr-Burstow moved in while Mrs Guarino was visiting her family in
Surrey at Christmas.
When she returned on January 3, Carr-Burstow would enter the house through Rileys bedroom
window.
Mrs Guarino was last seen shortly after midnight, in the early hours of January 8, by a friend who
brought her some fruit as she was unwell and was recovering in bed.
Family and friends were then unable to get in touch with her and started to worry for her safety,
Mr Meeke said.
A number of times Riley answered the phone and said Mrs Guarino had gone away to visit friends.
After worried family contacted the police, and visits were made to her property, officers became
concerned.
Mr Meeke went on: Calls were made to her bank which revealed extensive use of her debit and
Security camera footage revealed Riley and Carr-Burstow had made transactions and the two were
When interviewed, Carr-Burstow initially told police he did not know what had happened to Mrs
Guarino. He later told police Riley hit her with the hammer and killed her, but he didn't know
why.
Mr Meeke said Carr-Burstow went on to tell two friends two different accounts of what happened.
He told one friend he had told Riley to kill Mrs Guarino to prove his love, but told the other he
But Mr Meeke said if either account was true, Carr-Burstow would still be guilty of murder.
He said: What sort of an individual can see a woman bludgeoned to death and assist however
much you love the person involved by wrapping her in a shower curtain, putting her in her own
Mr Meeke said one of the first things Carr-Burstow and Riley did after dumping Mrs Guarinos body
Mr Meeke said the defendant and his co-accused then went on a spending spree with Mrs
Guarinos cash.
As well as withdrawing 3,000 in cash, they bought groceries, CDs by rappers Eminem and Dr Dre,
They also bought an Xbox and Ford Fiesta, and sold the dead womans Toyota Yaris and jewellery.
The jury heard that Mrs Guarino was born in Italy but moved to Surrey with her husband, Luigi
She had two children in the 1970s, Julietta and Tom, and divorced from her husband in 1992 and
moved to Trowbridge.
Mrs Guarino suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and depression, and needed a stick to assist her
while walking.
She worked into her fifties as a carer, but retired due to her ill health. As a consequence of her low
A lovers tiff could have been the catalyst which led a lodger to commit the brutal murder of a frail
Steohen Gurner
Stephen Gurner, 21, who gave evidence for the prosecution during the trial, has spoken about
Marc Riley and David Carr-Burstows volatile relationship and drug addictions, following their
Mr Gurner, who still lives in west Wiltshire, said Carr-Burstow was heavily into drugs, including
He described how Riley and Carr-Burstow got together, saying: Marc and David were friends for a
time, then they got together. Everybody knew Marc was gay. I knew Dave was bisexual.
It was a normal relationship. Marc was very much in control. Marc had all the money. He was
Marc used to get a bit moody, but not anything violent. Marc was like a woman and used to bitch
and moan. I think Dave has problems. Hes just very hyperactive. Some of his ideas were a bit far
out.
Carr-Burstows stay at charity hostel Amber Foundation came to a sudden end a few months later
when he got thrown out after Riley planted drugs in his room following a heated row.
Talking about his relationship with the couple, Mr Gurner said: We used to mainly do drugs
Dave used to do mainly weed and a few chemies here and there, like pills, and coke (cocaine).
David was smoking about half an ounce of weed a day. He would get up and have a spliff and
Mr Gurner moved into a flat in Orchard Court with former girlfriend Laura Elvin in December 2008.
He remembers the night of January 8, when the pair arrived at his flat just hours after Riley had
killed Mrs Guarino and the pair had dumped her body in the River Avon.
He said: That night, Marc came into my flat with muddy clothes.
Dave was up in the air and they only stayed 20 minutes and Dave said lets go out.
During a car journey, Carr-Burstow then told Mr Gurner how Riley had killed Mrs Guarino and they
After that night, Dave used to take me aside when he visited our flat.
He thought the house was being watched. He would say Im cracking up, I dont know what to
do.
I think it was a lovers argument. Thats all I think it was that led to it.
Mr Gurner became embroiled in the police operation when they raided his flat in late January, and
he was later arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods Mrs Guarinos jewellery and
assisting an offender. Mr Gurner said he is now looking to the future as his girlfriend Charmine
By Charley Morgan
David Carr-Burstow has been found not guilty of murdering Trowbridge
grandmother Antonietta Guarino at Bristol Crown Court this afternoon.
murder
After five hours of deliberation, three this morning and two last night, the jury of
five women and seven men cleared 20-year-old Burstow of the murder charge.
Marc Riley, 24, had already admitted murdering Mrs Guarino, of Osborne Road,
Trowbridge, and obstructing the coroner at the start of the nine-day trial.
As the verdict on Carr-Burtsow's murder charge was read out, Mrs Guarino's
daughter Giulietta Bogacz burst into tears.
Carr-Burstow and Riley will be back in court this afternoon for sentencing.
Please appeal against the 4 year sentence Mr Meeke - while i appreciate you may not want
to ruffle some feathers i feel an extra couple of years for obstructing a coroner is not
unreasonable - put the social events on hold - the guarino family deserve it - dont you
think? While you're at it 27 years for the murderer -thanks
at the end of the day they have been sentenced and they have both been punished what they
did sickens me but the judge knows what he is doing and obviously feels that this a a
appropriate punishment i feel for the ladys family and i cant imagine what she is going
threw what those lads did is unexcusable but they have been sentenced and both are going
to prison so i dont see the point in appealing for longer sentences what is an extra 7 years
on a 20 year sentence !!unless you were in the court yourself you will never know the ins
and outs of what actually happened!
bekkiboo wrote:
at the end of the day they have been sentenced and they have both been punished what they
did sickens me but the judge knows what he is doing and obviously feels that this a a
appropriate punishment i feel for the ladys family and i cant imagine what she is going
threw what those lads did is unexcusable but they have been sentenced and both are going
to prison so i dont see the point in appealing for longer sentences what is an extra 7 years
on a 20 year sentence !!unless you were in the court yourself you will never know the ins
and outs of what actually happened!
1.The Crown have a right to appeal if they feel a sentence is unduly light.
2.Mrs Guarino was bludgeoned to death with a hammer
3.Unless you have evidence that Mrs Guarino was a homophobic, mentally disordered
schizoid bully WE ARE A WEE BIT SHORT OF MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES or maybe
YOU feel that Mrs Guarino was being unreasonable when she expressed a wish that Mr
Riley adhere to his tenacy agreement.
4. Do not insult the family of Mrs Guarino by refering to the 'ins and outs ' of her murder as
if we are talking about a couple of guys having a 'pub fight'.
5. Do you believe that murderers should never serve more than 20 years?
bekkiboo wrote: at the end of the day they have been sentenced and they have both been
punished what they did sickens me but the judge knows what he is doing and obviously
feels that this a a appropriate punishment i feel for the ladys family and i cant imagine
what she is going threw what those lads did is unexcusable but they have been sentenced
and both are going to prison so i dont see the point in appealing for longer sentences what
is an extra 7 years on a 20 year sentence !!unless you were in the court yourself you will
never know the ins and outs of what actually happened!
1.The Crown have a right to appeal if they feel a sentence is unduly light. 2.Mrs Guarino
was bludgeoned to death with a hammer 3.Unless you have evidence that Mrs Guarino
was a homophobic, mentally disordered schizoid bully WE ARE A WEE BIT SHORT OF
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES or maybe YOU feel that Mrs Guarino was being
unreasonable when she expressed a wish that Mr Riley adhere to his tenacy agreement. 4.
Do not insult the family of Mrs Guarino by refering to the 'ins and outs ' of her murder as if
we are talking about a couple of guys having a 'pub fight'. 5. Do you believe that murderers
should never serve more than 20 years?
Joking aside, I don't think your too far wrong in your assessment, Not Kate Price
I think there is something seriously wrong with our sentencing here in England. Why does
life never mean life? This poor lady has lost hers? Her family must be very upset at this. It
sends out an increasing message that you can do what you like, however sick and still get
away with it.
By Charley Morgan
Two men accused of murdering Trowbridge grandmother Antonietta Guarino bludgeoned her to
Marc Riley, 24 and his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, then went on a spending spree,
spending hundreds of pounds on sex toys, a Ford Fiesta, CDs, DVDs and food, using Mrs Guarinos
Police found that shortly after killing 61-year-old Mrs Guarino, dumping her body in the River Avon
and clearing up the blood at her house in Osborne Road, the pair ordered takeaway pizzas from
Riley, Mrs Guarinos lodger, has admitted her murder, as well as a second charge of obstructing a
coroner in carrying out an inquest, by dumping her body in the River Avon.
Guarino
Carr-Burstow has pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner by disposing of Mrs Guarinos body, but
has denied murder or procuring murder and is standing trial, which started today.
Martin Meeke QC, prosecuting, told the jury this morning: Antonietta Guarino was beaten to death
When she was either dead, or dying, her body was wrapped in a shower curtain, tied with an
electrical cable, an orange cable of the type we all have for the lawnmower or strimmer.
Her body was then put into her own car (a Toyota Yaris) and driven to the River Avon which was
He went on to tell the jury that Mrs Guarinos body was finally found in the River Avon on February
There were sobs from the direction of the public gallery, where Mrs Guarinos children Giulietta and
but told the jury they would hear from various witnesses who say Carr-Burstow either admitted to
He said: Stephen Gurner remembers Carr-Burstow turning up at his flat in the silver Toyota Yaris,
He took Gurner out for a ride in the car. There came a time when Carr-Bustow stopped the car
and having done so, told Gurner that he and Riley had killed their landlord, put her body in the
He also said Carr-Bustows step-brother, Reginald Potter, who lives near Trowbridge, said Carr-
Burstow phoned him on January 9 and said, I got into a fight last night with a bloke. I hit him on
Mr Meeke said: This defendant had made admissions to having killed a male.
Perhaps even he was too embarrassed that he had in fact killed a frail lady of 61.
Two men accused of murdering Trowbridge grandmother Antonietta Guarino bludgeoned her to
Marc Riley, 24 and his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, then went on a spending spree,
spending hundreds of pounds on sex toys, a Ford Fiesta, CDs, DVDs and food, using Mrs Guarinos
Police found that shortly after killing 61-year-old Mrs Guarino, dumping her body in the River Avon
and clearing up the blood at her house in Osborne Road, the pair ordered takeaway pizzas from
Riley, Mrs Guarinos lodger, has admitted her murder, as well as a second charge of obstructing a
coroner in carrying out an inquest, by dumping her body in the River Avon.
Guarino
Carr-Burstow has pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner by disposing of Mrs Guarinos body, but
has denied murder or procuring murder and is standing trial, which started today.
Martin Meeke QC, prosecuting, told the jury this morning: Antonietta Guarino was beaten to death
When she was either dead, or dying, her body was wrapped in a shower curtain, tied with an
electrical cable, an orange cable of the type we all have for the lawnmower or strimmer.
Her body was then put into her own car (a Toyota Yaris) and driven to the River Avon which was
He went on to tell the jury that Mrs Guarinos body was finally found in the River Avon on February
There were sobs from the direction of the public gallery, where Mrs Guarinos children Giulietta and
but told the jury they would hear from various witnesses who say Carr-Burstow either admitted to
He said: Stephen Gurner remembers Carr-Burstow turning up at his flat in the silver Toyota Yaris,
He took Gurner out for a ride in the car. There came a time when Carr-Bustow stopped the car
and having done so, told Gurner that he and Riley had killed their landlord, put her body in the
He also said Carr-Bustows step-brother, Reginald Potter, who lives near Trowbridge, said Carr-
Burstow phoned him on January 9 and said, I got into a fight last night with a bloke. I hit him on
Mr Meeke said: This defendant had made admissions to having killed a male.
Perhaps even he was too embarrassed that he had in fact killed a frail lady of 61.
Got a story? CLICK HERE to email us, call the newsdesk on 01225 773638 or text your
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By Craig Evry & Charley Morgan
A LODGER and his boyfriend have appeared before magistrates in Chippenham this
Marc Riley, 24, and David Carr-Burstow, 19, are jointly accused of murdering 61-year-old Italian
Riley, who works at Virgin Mobile in Trowbridge, lived with Mrs Guarino at her bungalow in Osborne
Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, told magistrates: "The police inquiry is ongoing and the body has not
been recovered.
Michael Jeary, defending Riley and Carr-Burstow, said the pair were co-operating with police.
Mrs Hewitt said Mrs Guarino was last seen on January 7, when she attended an appointment at a
No application for bail was made and Riley and Carr-Burstow were remanded in custody until a
Reporter Charley Morgan said: "They were both stood in court with their sleeves pulled up to the
elbows.
"As they came out of the dock and were taken back to their cell you could hear shouts of
frustration."
Riley will be held at HMP Horfield in Bristol and Carr-Burstow at a youth detention centre until their
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MORE NE WS ST ORIES
David Carr-Burstow
The lodger of Antonietta Guarino moved his boyfriend into her house without her permission and
Marc Riley, 24, who admitted murdering the 61 year old Italian-born Mrs Guarino yesterday, had
asked her if his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, could move in, but was told no.
Yesterday Bristol Crown Court was told that Carr-Burstow stayed with Riley at Mrs Guarinos home
in Osborne Road over Christmas and after she had returned from visiting family over the festive
period, he would climb into Rileys bedroom through the window so she would not notice.
Carr-Burstow denies murder, but has admitted helping Riley dump her body in the River Avon.
When Mrs Guarino returned after Christmas, she told friends she thought Riley had been having
friends over.
Mrs Guarino's daughter Giulietta Bogacz, 35, took the stand yesterday.
Mrs Bogacz told the court: She phoned me up a couple of days after she had been home after
Christmas and told me Marc had taken her to one side and said he wasnt happy with where his
He wanted his boyfriend to move into her house with them. I said no, she shouldnt do that.
Martin Meeke QC asked her if she seemed inclined to allow Carr-Burstow to move in. Mrs Bogacz
She said it had nothing to do with Marcs sexuality, she simply did not want to share her house
with more than one person. Mrs Bogacz said: She told him they couldn't move in there together
and suggested he start to look for a place where they could move in together.
Mrs Guarino also mentioned to her friend David West on January 7 that she thought Riley had been
She mentioned this before and after Christmas to me and I could see it was grating on her. She
didnt like it, it wasnt part of the arrangement. She was very serious about it.
I got the feeling that something with the lodger Marc Riley had gone wrong. She also believed her
Another friend, Pamela Wescott, from Calne, told the court that Mrs Guarino had confided in her
that Riley, who worked for Virgin Mobile in Trowbridge, had not been paying his rent.
The lodger of Antonietta Guarino moved his boyfriend into her house without her permission and
Marc Riley, 24, who admitted murdering the 61 year old Italian-born Mrs Guarino yesterday, had
asked her if his boyfriend David Carr-Burstow, 20, could move in, but was told no.
Yesterday Bristol Crown Court was told that Carr-Burstow stayed with Riley at Mrs Guarino's home
in Osborne Road over Christmas and after she had returned from visiting family over the festive
period, he would climb into Riley's bedroom through the window so she would not notice.
Carr-Burstow denies murder, but has admitted helping Riley dump her body in the River Avon.
When Mrs Guarino returned after Christmas, she told friends she thought Riley had been having
friends over.
landlady's home
Mrs Guarino's daughter Giulietta Bogacz, 35, took the stand today.
She told the court: "She phoned me up a couple of days after she had been home after Christmas
and told me Marc had taken her to one side and said he wasn't happy with where his boyfriend
was living.
"He wanted his boyfriend to move into her house with them. I said no, she shouldn't do that."
Martin Meeke QC asked her if she seemed inclined to allow Carr-Burstow to move in. Mrs Bogacz
She said it had nothing to do with Marc's sexuality, she was not old-fashioned, she simply did not
"She told him they couldn't move in there together and suggested he start to look for a place
Mrs Guarino also mentioned to her friend David West on January 7 that she thought Riley had been
In a statement to police he said: "While we were chatting, she mentioned again that Marc was
"She mentioned this before and after Christmas to me and I could see it was grating on her. She
didn't like it, it wasn't part of the arrangement. She was very serious about it.
"I got the feeling that something with the lodger Marc Riley had gone wrong. She also believed her
Another friend, Pamela Wescott, from Calne, told the court that Mrs Guarino had confided in her
that Riley, who worked for Virgin Mobile in Trowbridge, had not been paying his rent.
"She did say that she was having problems," she said. "He was making excuses and not paying his
full rent."
A lodger who beat his landlady to death with a hammer at her home in Trowbridge, then along
with his boyfriend dumped her body in the River Avon, has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years.
Marc Riley
Marc Riley, who admitted murder, refused to leave his cell to attend the sentencing hearing at
Bristol Crown Court earlier this afternoon. He attacked Mrs Guarino, 61, in the kitchen of her home
Then along with his boyfriend, David Carr-Burstow, 20, who was cleared by a jury of murder but
sentenced to four years in jail after admitting obstructing a coroner, they wrapped her body up in a
sentence in a Young Offenders Institution, before being released on licence, but he has already
Before sentencing, the court was told how both defendants had previous convictions.
Riley was given a police caution in April 2008 for hitting Carr-Burstow at a fair in Wiltshire. The
pair had struck up a relationship the same year after meeting at the Amber Foundation in
Carr-Burstow has a string of previous offences, including three counts of attempted theft, burglary,
Judge Crowther, before sentencing Carr-Burstow, said: What you did was to give direct help to
Marc Riley, in a way your own counsel has accepted was wicked in itself and callous and cruel on
On hearing the sentencing, Mrs Guarinos daughter Giulietta, 35, burst into tears, and at least one
Judge Crowther said Riley would be sentenced for murder, as the charge of obstructing a coroner,
He said other aggravating features of the murder included the fact Mrs Guarino was in poor health,
the fact she was subjected to a sudden, violent and overwhelming attack and that Riley was in a
The jury in the trial of David Carr-Burstow, who is accused of murdering Antonietta Guarino with
Judge Tom Crowther, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, spent this morning summing up all of the
evidence, which they have heard over the last eight days.
He said the jury would have to decide whether Carr-Burstow had either been involved in killing Mrs
Guarino, or had procured her murder by telling Marc Riley to hit her over the head with a hammer,
He said: "You must all be sure the either one or both is proved, but it is not necessary that you are
all agreed upon which it is, because whichever it is, you would be satisfied that murder had been
committed."
He told them they might have to rely on circumstantial evidence provided by the prosecution that
He advised them on certain points of law, such as joint responsibility, saying even if two people
had a different role in a crime, they could both still be responsible for committing it.
He warned the jury that they might have to make up their minds, based on inferences or logical
Also he reminded them that Carr-Burstow had already admitted that he had told lies and warned
them to be cautious.
He said: "It would be an unusual case if, when the jury retires, they can say 'well now we know
Following Carr-Burstow's mother's evidence yesterday, the jury were told that both sides now
accepted that his diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome happened during his childhood and that a
recent medical assessment proved he did not now suffer from either Asperger's, or any other
autistic spectrum disorder, but he does still suffer from severe ADHD.
Mrs Guarinos son, Tom Sebastiano, 32, from Chertsey in Surrey, told the
Wiltshire Times this week how he feels let down by the jury, the judge and the
system.
The jury reached a unanimous verdict in just five hours that David Carr-Burstow
was not jointly responsible with Marc Riley for her murder.
He was sentenced to four years in prison for the part he played in dumping Mrs
Guarinos body in the River Avon, of which he will serve two before being
released on licence.
Mr Sebastiano said: It feels like another blow. I was hoping to come to work
this week and say that chapter is over and we are moving forward.
But it feels like old wounds have been reopened. Its really devastating, I
havent come to terms with it.
Carr-Burstow admitted his part in disposing of Mrs Guarinos body in the River
Avon and was charged with obstructing a coroner due to its potentially longer
sentence than other charges which could have been brought against him.
But Mr Sebastiano feels the sentence given to him does not reflect the gravity of
what he did to his mothers body and the agony caused to him and his sister
while they spent a month waiting for her body to be found.
I cant come to terms with the sentence that David Carr-Burstow got for the
things that he pleaded guilty to, he said.
I feel massively let down by the jury too. In the face of all that evidence that
they should take five hours to get to that conclusion unanimously is shocking.
But on balance, I was also let down by the system they didnt have all the
evidence in front of them.
He said it was the final insult when Marc Riley refused to come up from his cell
to face the court room to be sentenced.
He had missed the moment Riley pleaded guilty to his mothers murder on the
first day of the trial, as he was still on his way up from the witness room in the
court.
He said he believes the judge should have taken the opportunity to punish Riley
for contempt of court for failing to appear.
I dont know how he could be given credit for an early guilty plea when he did
not plead guilty until the morning the trial was due to begin.
Mr Sebastiano believes that he will now never really know the full details of what
happened in his mothers house in Osborne Road on the night of January 8, and
feels the family will not find closure for a very long time.
The morning after the verdict he sent flowers to his mothers former house, with
a note saying he felt she had been let down and has has set up a weblog called
Justice Denied, to vent his frustration.
But he had the utmost praise for Wiltshire Polices Major Incident Team and has
written to chief constable Brian Moore, to express his gratitude.
In a victim impact statement, he said that some weeks ago he found his five-
year-old daughter standing in their garden holding drawings of her grandmother
whom she called Nonna up to the sky.
When he asked what she was doing, she replied: Showing Nonna my pictures,
shes in heaven.
His sister Giulietta, 35, said in her statement: I wake up with a shock every day
to realise once again that mum has been murdered and that I will never see,
touch or speak to her again. I desperately want to wake up and find that this
was just a nightmare.
YOUR SAY YourTimes
We as close friends of Antonietta are also devastated. We knew she had not been well after
the new year and waited and waited to hear fom her, then hoped she had gone to stay with
someone. She had stayed with a friend's mother a long time when she was helping her get
over the death of her son who was also a friend a while ago and it was not unusual for
Antonietta to stay away.
Soon though we sensed something was very wrong, but there was nothing we could do,
especially as the lodger pretended she was phoning them from somewhere.
Antonietta often had called us if she ever needed help as we lived nearby and we never let
her down. Also her friends Enza and Steve as well as others were supportive. I had even cut
her grass many times and Sarah thought of her like a sister. She had a fantastic
personality and was a very popular person who was devoted to her family, always talking
about them and saying how proud she is of them. I say is as she is not gone, not gone at all.
We will see her again, just not until we also die.
I agree with Tom about all of what he has said in this article. This is a terrible outcome
with the fact a young man could be out in twenty years for such evil and that a man who
aided and abetted in an evil way has such a short sentence. Its terrible and is an insult to
antonietta and to everyone who wants this terrible situation to not be made light of. We,
many millions of us, have been let down, and yes it is worse for her family who will feel
more deeply naturally. We however are very very upset, shocked and angry. We will also
never be able to get this off our minds and dont believe the whole truth has been told.
We ask people to join in with lobbying to get longer sentencing as theres got to be so
murderers can see what should happen to them. Its all too easy for murderers who know
life does not mean life and whose criminal accomplices get less than even a thief in such
circumstances should get. I wish the Jury and Judge could be people who hate evil like we
do and who love innocent people like we do, as they have let us all down and Tom is right.
The only reason we didnt go is because we thought we would have nightmares and knew
there was nothing we could do. WE suspected they would get treated not seriously enough
and didnt want to have to be in the same place as them. We were thinking of buying her
house but would never be able to cope with knowing whats happened there to a kind good
person. Now however we will launch a campaign of thousands to stop such pathetically
light sentences and will consider a protest.
http://justice-denie
d.blogspot.com
The jury reached a unanimous verdict in just five hours that David Carr-Burstow
was not jointly responsible with Marc Riley for her murder.
He was sentenced to four years in prison for the part he played in dumping Mrs
Guarinos body in the River Avon, of which he will serve two before being
released on licence.
Mr Sebastiano said: It feels like another blow. I was hoping to come to work
this week and say that chapter is over and we are moving forward.
But it feels like old wounds have been reopened. Its really devastating, I
havent come to terms with it.
Carr-Burstow admitted his part in disposing of Mrs Guarinos body in the River
Avon and was charged with obstructing a coroner due to its potentially longer
sentence than other charges which could have been brought against him.
But Mr Sebastiano feels the sentence given to him does not reflect the gravity of
what he did to his mothers body and the agony caused to him and his sister
while they spent a month waiting for her body to be found.
I cant come to terms with the sentence that David Carr-Burstow got for the
things that he pleaded guilty to, he said.
I feel massively let down by the jury too. In the face of all that evidence that
they should take five hours to get to that conclusion unanimously is shocking.
But on balance, I was also let down by the system they didnt have all the
evidence in front of them.
He said it was the final insult when Marc Riley refused to come up from his cell
to face the court room to be sentenced.
He had missed the moment Riley pleaded guilty to his mothers murder on the
first day of the trial, as he was still on his way up from the witness room in the
court.
He said he believes the judge should have taken the opportunity to punish Riley
for contempt of court for failing to appear.
I dont know how he could be given credit for an early guilty plea when he did
not plead guilty until the morning the trial was due to begin.
Mr Sebastiano believes that he will now never really know the full details of what
happened in his mothers house in Osborne Road on the night of January 8, and
feels the family will not find closure for a very long time.
The morning after the verdict he sent flowers to his mothers former house, with
a note saying he felt she had been let down and has has set up a weblog called
Justice Denied, to vent his frustration.
But he had the utmost praise for Wiltshire Polices Major Incident Team and has
written to chief constable Brian Moore, to express his gratitude.
In a victim impact statement, he said that some weeks ago he found his five-
year-old daughter standing in their garden holding drawings of her grandmother
whom she called Nonna up to the sky.
When he asked what she was doing, she replied: Showing Nonna my pictures,
shes in heaven.
His sister Giulietta, 35, said in her statement: I wake up with a shock every day
to realise once again that mum has been murdered and that I will never see,
touch or speak to her again. I desperately want to wake up and find that this
was just a nightmare.
We as close friends of Antonietta are also devastated. We knew she had not been well after
the new year and waited and waited to hear fom her, then hoped she had gone to stay with
someone. She had stayed with a friend's mother a long time when she was helping her get
over the death of her son who was also a friend a while ago and it was not unusual for
Antonietta to stay away.
Soon though we sensed something was very wrong, but there was nothing we could do,
especially as the lodger pretended she was phoning them from somewhere.
Antonietta often had called us if she ever needed help as we lived nearby and we never let
her down. Also her friends Enza and Steve as well as others were supportive. I had even cut
her grass many times and Sarah thought of her like a sister. She had a fantastic
personality and was a very popular person who was devoted to her family, always talking
about them and saying how proud she is of them. I say is as she is not gone, not gone at all.
We will see her again, just not until we also die.
I agree with Tom about all of what he has said in this article. This is a terrible outcome
with the fact a young man could be out in twenty years for such evil and that a man who
aided and abetted in an evil way has such a short sentence. Its terrible and is an insult to
antonietta and to everyone who wants this terrible situation to not be made light of. We,
many millions of us, have been let down, and yes it is worse for her family who will feel
more deeply naturally. We however are very very upset, shocked and angry. We will also
never be able to get this off our minds and dont believe the whole truth has been told.
We ask people to join in with lobbying to get longer sentencing as theres got to be so
murderers can see what should happen to them. Its all too easy for murderers who know
life does not mean life and whose criminal accomplices get less than even a thief in such
circumstances should get. I wish the Jury and Judge could be people who hate evil like we
do and who love innocent people like we do, as they have let us all down and Tom is right.
The only reason we didnt go is because we thought we would have nightmares and knew
there was nothing we could do. WE suspected they would get treated not seriously enough
and didnt want to have to be in the same place as them. We were thinking of buying her
house but would never be able to cope with knowing whats happened there to a kind good
person. Now however we will launch a campaign of thousands to stop such pathetically
light sentences and will consider a protest.
http://justice-denie
d.blogspot.com
By Charley Morgan
Without a murder weapon, police have now described their apprehension over what could have
An area of the household waste tip near Calne was sealed off for weeks after David Carr-Burstow
admitted throwing the murder weapon, a hammer, into a bin at McDonalds in Bradley Road,
Trowbridge.
Detectives were told it would take 100 men at least 100 days to find it, and Det Supt Steve
Fulcher said: The simple fact is that if we hadnt have been able to turn Riley, we wouldnt have
been able to find the body and would have had very much a touch and go case with no witnesses,
We would have tried them without the body, but how far we would have got, I dont know.
Questioning was key during the investigation, officers describing Riley as the rather needy,
emotionally weak but possessive one, and Carr-Burstow as having animal cunning, and his
While he was in custody, officers found a love note in the exercise yard penned by Riley, in which
he told Carr-Burstow the account he had given to police and said they would live together and
Without a murder weapon, police have now described their apprehension over what could have
An area of the household waste tip near Calne was sealed off for weeks after David Carr-Burstow
admitted throwing the murder weapon, a hammer, into a bin at McDonalds in Bradley Road,
Trowbridge.
Detectives were told it would take 100 men at least 100 days to find it, and Det Supt Steve
Fulcher said: The simple fact is that if we hadnt have been able to turn Riley, we wouldnt have
been able to find the body and would have had very much a touch and go case with no witnesses,
We would have tried them without the body, but how far we would have got, I dont know.
Questioning was key during the investigation, officers describing Riley as the rather needy,
emotionally weak but possessive one, and Carr-Burstow as having animal cunning, and his
While he was in custody, officers found a love note in the exercise yard penned by Riley, in which
he told Carr-Burstow the account he had given to police and said they would live together and