Man murdered 'music loving' woman whose body lay undiscovered in flat for weeks
A man has pleaded guilting to murdering a "music loving" woman whose body lay undiscovered in her flat for several weeks.
Joe Rankin, 33, was told he is facing life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of Emma Potter, 40.
Rankin, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, who has a long history of psychiatric problems, appeared at Bristol Crown Court today for his arraignment after it was deemed he was now fit to plead.
He spoke only to confirm his name and submit a plea of guilty to the charge he murdered Emma sometime between September 19 and November 4 last year.
No further details of the crime were given in court during the short hearing and he was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing next month.
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Rankin submitted a plea of guilty at Bristol Crown Court (BPM MEDIA)A previous court hearing was told Emma was found dead at her flat in Chapel Street, Stroud, at around 4.15pm on November 4 last year by police officers after a neighbour had raised concerns.
Her death was treated initially as unexplained but after a post mortem was carried out, Gloucestershire Police opened a murder investigation.
Rankin was today told a medical report would now be prepared ahead of sentencing to look at any mitigating factors that could affect the minimum term he is given.
The prosecution said that instead of opening the case now it would, in their view, be "better to have everything heard at once" and have the judge assisted by a psychiatric report.
The court heard the defendant had a "detailed psychiatric history" but by his "guilty plea to the charge on the indictment" the conclusion was he was "not suffering to an extent that equates to diminished responsibility".
Rankin was no longer in a hospital setting and was now being held in custody in prison, the court also heard.
The Recorder of Bristol, His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC, told the defendant: "Mr Rankin, you will be sentenced on Friday 16th of June. We will be seeking a medical report from the hospital where you have most recently been detained to help me understand a little more about your psychiatry.
"On 16th June you will be brought to court and we will hear about the case then and you will have sentenced passed.
"As you will already have had explained to you in detail by your solicitor, you will receive a life sentence and the question for me will be to determine what the minimum period will be before you can even be considered for release.
"In the meantime you will be remanded in custody."
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Paying tribute to her at the time of her death, Emma's family said: "We mourn the death of our daughter, Emma, who joined our family as a beautiful five-month-old baby.
"She enjoyed all kinds of music and loved to sing. Her heroine was Whitney Houston. She longed to be like her.
"All her life, Emma tried to be kind to anyone who befriended her.
''Life wasn't always easy, but she was trying to find ways to improve herself. We will never know whether she would have succeeded.
"Who would have thought that beautiful, funny, dark-eyed baby would have had such a tragic end?"
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