Former soldier accused of breaking disabled Telford man’s neck in row about dog surfed BBC Sport for rugby news as victim lay dying

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Jason Michael Trundle, now 52, came to Telford to live with Leon Pratt, 64, in the summer of 2023 and act as his unofficial live-in carer, having met him online.

Trundle, a former gunner in the British Army, admitted manslaughter after Mr Pratt’s body was found dead at his home in Downemead, Hollinswood, by paramedics on October 26, 2024.

Mr Pratt had been dead for a month and was found under blankets on the bed in his downstairs bedroom covered in maggots.

Trundle, of no fixed abode, also admitted fraud and preventing a legal burial, but denies murdering Mr Pratt.

His trial at Worcester Crown Court was told this week that Mr Pratt likely died on September 27, after Trundle claimed the pair had a row over their dog, Jess.

Giving evidence in the dock, Trundle said the altercation started when Mr Pratt began hitting their dog with a walking stick.

He described locking his left arm around Mr Pratt’s neck and taking the stick from him before hitting the disabled man with it “once”.

Under cross-examination on Wednesday, prosecution advocate, Mr Richard Barraclough KC, asked Trundle how hard he had hit Mr Pratt with the walking stick.

“The jury has heard from the professor who said the sort of force needed to break Mr Pratt’s ribs was similar to a golf strike - a 180-degree swing. Was it a 180-degree swing, Mr Trundle?”

“I don’t recall,” replied Trundle who admitted “restraining” Mr Pratt around the neck, but denied “strangling him”.

Mr Barraclough reminded the jury that Mr Pratt had been found with fractures to his neck as well as the broken ribs.

He asked Trundle: “Do you agree that anyone who strangles someone with enough force to break bones in their neck, it was their intention to kill that person?”

“My only intention was to get Leon away from Jess and Jess away from the room,” said Trundle.

“Were you so angry that you deliberately strangled him?” asked the KC.

“No,” replied Trundle.

“Did you stamp on his chest?” the KC asked.

“No!”

Mr Barraclough then reminded the jury of Mr Pratt’s disabilities, saying to the defendant: “The evidence before the jury describes a seriously disabled man, do you agree that is an accurate description of Mr Pratt?”

Trundle replied: “Leon was a lot stronger than you are making him out to be.”

He added that Mr Pratt was breathing when he lifted him onto his bed following their altercation, albeit ”unconscious”, but said he didn’t know at what point the 64-year-old had lost consciousness.

He told the court he realised he was dead an hour later when he returned to Mr Pratt’s room.

“But he was unconscious when you left him for that hour?” asked Mr Barraclough. ”What did you do in that hour?”

“Sat down and calmed myself down,” said Trundle.

“You were on the BBC Sport website at 8.54pm, looking for rugby news,” Judge James Burbidge KC interceded.

“Is that panic, Mr Trundle, checking rugby results?” asked Mr Barraclough.

He then asked Trundle why he did not call an ambulance after he realised Mr Pratt was unconscious.

“There was a rise and fall in his chest which showed he was breathing,” Trundle said.

He was then asked if was aware of the “don’t resuscitate” signs Mr Pratt had in his room.

“Yes, but that didn’t cross my mind at that time,” Trundle said. “I didn’t want him to be dead.”

“Why?” asked Mr Barraclough. “Because you killed him?”

“You keep trying to say my intention was to kill him. I’ve admitted playing a part in Leon’s death but I did not intend to kill him,” Trundle said.

“Was the reason for not calling the authorities at any stage because you were going to get kicked out of the home?” Mr Barraclough then asked.

“No! You keep making out I was freeloading off Leon. I wasn’t.”

Mr Barraclough then asked when paramedics finally turned up to the house on October 26, why Trundle told them Mr Pratt had only been dead for “about 12 days” when it had been established he died on September 27.

He replied: “That was an error on my part.”

“Why did you cover Mr Pratt’s body with blankets?”

“To hide the smell,” replied Trundle.

“Why did you say to the paramedic ‘when have paramedics become coppers?’” asked Mr Barraclough.

“Because he was being nosey,” Trundle replied.

“Asking how Mr Pratt died was being nosey? Come on - why did you not tell them it was a tragic accident?” asked the KC.

“I don’t know,” Trundle replied.

The barrister then asked: “Did you deliberately kill Mr Leon Pratt by strangling him?”

“No, I did not,” Trundle replied.

“When you were strangling him did you intend to kill him?”

“No, I did not.”

Mr Barraclough then accused Trundle of trying to cover up Mr Pratt’s “murder” by “hiding the body” so he could live in Mr Pratt’s house and “spend his money”.

“I have already pled guilty to that,” Trundle said, adding. “You can insinuate what you like Mr Barraclough, sir, but I did not intentionally kill that man.”

The trial continues. Trundle denies murder.