Fiona Beal: Teacher took bedroom selfies after murdering boyfriend and burying him in garden, court hears

The primary school teacher accused of murdering her boyfriend took selfies in the bedroom where he died several months later, a court has heard.

Fiona Beal, 49, allegedly stabbed Nicholas Billingham, 42, in the bedroom of their home in Moore Street, Northampton, in November 2021 before wrapping him in bin bags and a rug and burying him in the garden.

Jurors at her trial in Northampton Crown Court were shown two selfies of Beal which she took in a bedroom in February last year – three months after the killing.

One of the images shows Beal wearing a black cardigan and a top with a gold spotty dress and smiling as she stands next to a double bed.

The bed is covered with a patchwork quilt and colourful LED lights are on the wall.

Another close-up picture shows Beal staring down the camera lens with her hair covering her shoulders.

The pictures were shown to the jury as neighbours of the couple described her as “bubbly and cheerful” in the weeks before Billingham’s death.

But neighbour Ellen Warren said Beal’s mood had changed in the weeks after she is accused of murdering her boyfriend.

Warren told the jurors: “Fiona came around to my house just before Christmas. She was a bit down and a bit teary as well.

“She said that Nick’s been cheating on her again. I knew that he cheated on her before, that’s only what my partner told me.

“I said I'm sorry, and gave her a bit of advice and I told her not to let him back.”

Gary Warren told the court he had worked on building jobs with Billingham and had received several text messages from him telling him he had moved away from Northampton to be with another woman.

Fiona Beal trial: Latest updates

CCTV shows teacher accused of burying body buying 50 litres of compost in B&Q (Independent)

Teacher’s partner found buried under bark, rubble and bricks, jury told (PA)

Teacher stabbed 'unfaithful' partner to death and buried body in garden, court told (Sky)

Last week jurors were shown CCTV of Beal buying bags of compost and decorative stones days after she is alleged to have murdered Billingham.

The footage shows visiting a B&Q store on the afternoon of 13 November, 2021, 12 days after she is alleged to have stabbed Billingham in the neck.

As well as showing Beal entering and leaving the store, she is seen being assisted by a member of staff with two trollies carrying bags of compost and stones, and a light-coloured plastic planter.

The trial was told last Wednesday that the remains of Billingham were found wrapped in carpet, buried under bark chippings, soil, wooden sheeting, concrete building blocks, bricks and planks.

Plastic bags, rubble, mortar, polystyrene, laminate flooring and sections of fabric and vinyl were also recovered from a “built structure” hiding the body.

Beal admits unlawfully killing Billingham at their home but denies murder due to her state of mind at the time.

The trial continues.