BLIND York killer Tony O'Connell has been freed from custody by a judge to give him the chance to prove that he can live in the community without problems.

Mr Justice Hooper released blind epileptic and disabled O'Connell on bail, on condition that he resides at a probation hostel in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

He also adjourned sentence until July 14 on O'Connell, aged 34, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier court hearing.

Last September O'Connell, of Bouthwaite Drive, Acomb, killed his friend, popular Krystyna Walton, 48, of nearby Sowerby Road, after both of them had been drinking heavily.

A community care worker found her disfigured body at O'Connell's home, and a pathologist later discovered numerous bite marks on her body. At least two of them had been inflicted after death, Mr Justice Hooper heard at the earlier hearing.

Yesterday, at Newcastle Crown Court, the judge was expected to sentence O'Connell for the manslaughter.

But probation staff had asked for O'Connell to be sent for assessment to a probation hostel before sentence was finally passed.

Mr Justice Hooper earlier indicated he would give O'Connell three years' probation. At that hearing it emerged O'Connell was looking for an address in Newcastle rather than returning to York.

After reading a probation service report, Mr Justice Hooper agreed to send O'Connell for assessment and released him from custody for the first time since the killing last September.

O'Connell was arrested the day after the killing and has been held in custody ever since.Mr Justice Hooper ordered O'Connell to keep off alcohol and live at the hostel until he sentences him.

Mrs Walton's son Krystian Milke, who lives in Acomb, maintained his silence over the death of his mother, but neighbours repeated their sadness at her loss.

Michelle Clayton, who lived next door to Mrs Walton, said today: "She was a lovely woman and a good neighbour - she is missed around here."

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