10:10AM, Tue Jun 26, 2012

Mourner Threatens To Shoot Judge Over Funeral Fund

By Ruth Holliday Location: Teesside Crown Court

An angry mourner threatened to shoot a judge after becoming infuriated at his mother's funeral fund being cut by £51.

Kenneth Boxall could be jailed after being convicted of making a threat to kill following a three-day trial.

Boxall snapped after receiving notification the fund was being cut from £742 to £691.

He phoned the Tribunal Service in Newcastle upon Tyne and told a clerk he was going to shoot District Judge Ron Coia.

The 58-year-old grandfather, described by his wife, Carol, as a serial moaner, denied making a threat during the 17-minute call in September.

Mrs Boxall told the court she was standing next to her husband when he made the call and he never once mentioned the judge.

But a jury at Teesside Crown Court took little over an hour to find Boxall - who represented himself – guilty.

Amid claims of conspiracies and evidence tampering, he told Judge Peter Armstrong that he plans to appeal against the conviction.

Boxall, of Pentland Close, Peterlee, County Durham, will return to court to be sentenced next month, once background reports have been prepared.

Judge Armstrong told him: “I have to warn you that the renewal of your bail should not be taken as an indication of the sentence.

“All options will be open and that includes custody.”

During the trial, Boxall called a voice and speech expert who featured in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire fraud trial.

Professor Peter French gave evidence about what was said on a recording of a conversation in a police cell after Boxall’s arrest.

The expert, from the University of York, was a key witness in the infamous 2003 trial of quiz show cheat, Major Charles Ingram.

The jury in Boxall’s trial heard his application for a funeral fund was initially assessed at £742, but later reduced by £51.

He appealed against the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions but a tribunal ruled against him, the court heard.

He called the offices, and clerk Erin Slater said: “He was quite calm but went on to say he would shoot Mr Coia for making this decision.”

The official said Boxall spoke of “finding out where he lives” and “not joking”, and told the court: “I was quite shocked.”

In a written statement, Boxall’s son, Paul, said: “When my father gets angry, he doesn’t say anything in a calm and controlled manner.”

Mrs Boxall told the court: “He often complains... he’s always complaining... but he definitely didn’t make any threat in that phone call.”