Man accused of grandfather murder 'drank all day'

A 33-year-old man fatally injured his frail grandfather before smashing a glass on a customer's head and attacking a bar worker at a working men's club, a murder trial has heard.

Well-known Jaguar restoration expert John Brown died six days after being attacked by Jakob Walpole on 23 November 2024, Warwick Crown Court was told.

The prosecution allege Mr Walpole had been "drinking through the day," and carried out two attacks at Bulkington Working Men's Club about an hour after attacking the 81-year-old.

Mr Walpole of Bulkington, Warwickshire, denies murder, manslaughter, breaching a restraining order and two assaults.

Jurors were told security cameras in the victim's bungalow provided important evidence of the defendant's "responsibility" for the killing.

Mr Brown was well-known locally, an expert in vintage cars who ran a successful car panel and body repair business, the court heard.

He had recently been diagnosed with the early stages of dementia.

Opening the case, prosecutor Michael Duck KC said Mr Walpole knew his grandfather was frail and vulnerable, and intended "at the very least to cause him really serious bodily harm."

The 33-year-old had bought vodka on the morning of 23 November, and had a "very significant day of drinking," said Mr Duck.

He is alleged to have smashed a glass over the back of working men's club member's head in an incident caught on CCTV, which could not be deemed to be self defence, stated the prosecutor.

It is also claimed he made "physical and direct contact" with a bar worker as he was removed from the venue.

The court was told Mr Brown's daughter had installed security cameras at her parents' Bulkington home due to concerns about her brother's deteriorating behaviour since the Covid pandemic.

The cameras would "provide important evidence" about the murder charge, Mr Duck said.

The trial continues.

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