THE jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his friends at their home have been allowed to consider a majority verdict.

The panel at Winchester Crown Court had been deliberating for more eight hours and 45 minutes when they were granted a majority verdict by Mr Justice Garnham this afternoon (Friday).

Geoffrey and Michelle Hibbert were found dead at their home in Buckland Avenue, South Ham, on June 20, 2021.

Mr Hibbert, 61, had 58 separate injuries, to the head, neck, trunk and limbs, including “extensive, multiple, catastrophic blunt force trauma and stab wounds”, while “defensive type wounds to the hands and arms” indicated a fight.

Mrs Hibbert, 29, died of blood loss from multiple stab wounds including seven to the neck.

Stanley Elliott, 53 and of Vidlers Farm, Kiln Road, Sherborne St John, has been on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of their murders. He denies two counts of murder.

Addressing the jury today, the judge said: "It is important that you continue to try to reach verdicts of which all of you agree but if you find that you cannot all agree I will now accept verdicts that in which 10 of you will agree."