Members of a jury have been told to free themselves of “emotion” when considering three murder charges against a convicted Shropshire killer.

Robin Ligus is standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court for murdering Trevor Bradley, Brian Coles and Bernard Czyzewska, who died in 1994.

The 59-year-old defendant, formerly of Shrewsbury, is currently serving a life sentence for murdering pensioner Robert Young but is unfit to plead to the latest charges.

Ms Rachel Brand gave her final speech for the defence yesterday, asking the jury to consider if Ligus was a “serial confessor” rather than a “serial killer”.

She said the former painted and decorator, who has suffered with deteriorating health since a stroke in 2003, was unable to defend himself having being ruled unfit to plead or give evidence.

Addressing the jury of and six men and six women, Ms Brand said although they may “revile” him for past acts it should not cloud their judgement of the latest charges.

She said: “I’m not asking you to like him. He killed a 78-year-old man and it was for money to buy drugs.

“But we are asking you to consider the three charges without emotion because he is entitled to a fair trial.

“He has to prove his innocence but at this stage in his life he is at a disadvantage because he cannot answer questions for himself.”

Ms Brand also asked the jury to consider that the recorded audio tapes of Ligus’s confessing to a string of murders to a prison mate were a “put-up job”.

She said the “clearly visible and credible reason” for Ligus making up the confessions was to tell the stories in return for heroin.

“The crucial issue here is what was Ligus really playing at when he made those confessions?” added Ms Brand.

She told the court that police were unable to charge Ligus with the murders in 2000, despite him going on record and making the confessions, because there were “inconsistencies” which have still not been “iron out”.

The jury are expected to return a verdict on Tuesday.

Mr Bradley’s body was found in a burnt-out car in Melverley in April 1994.

Later that year in October Mr Coles was found dead in his home, near Whitchurch, while in November Mr Czyzewska’s body was found in the River Severn.

The trial continues.