THE prosecution and defence barristers are expected to give their closing speeches to the jury in the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust care home trial on Monday.

This morning, barrister Mark Balysz started the defence case by handing the jury two editions of Government health and safety guidance for care home operators.

He told jurors at York Crown Court one was in force at the time a resident at one of the trust’s care homes jumped to her death in 2011, and one came into force three years later, and pointed out what each said about windows and the risk of people falling or jumping through them.

Then he told the jury: “Aside from one small outstanding matter, that is the case for the defence.”

Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust denies charges of failure to ensure the health and safety of residents at Red Lodge residential community, New Earswick, and failure to have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment in place for the home.

City of York Council brought the charges as part of its investigation into the death of Dora Strickland, 90, who died after jumping through the second floor window of her flat at the home on November 1, 2011.