Court hears tragic 999 call of pensioner who died after burglary

A tragic 999 call from an 87-year-old man who died after being beaten up by burglars at his Shropshire home was played to a hushed courtroom today.

Charles Green made the call after his attackers left his home on May 2 and told the operator:?"I've been pretty well mashed up."

Today Stafford Crown Court was played a tape of the call.

Peter Marston, 24, formerly of Swan Lane, Oswestry, and Danny Keeble, 26, of no fixed address, deny charges of manslaughter and assaulting Mr Green with intent to rob.

Marston further denies burglary, a charge the jury was told that has been admitted by Keeble.

After Miss Debi Gould, prosecuting, outlined the case the jury heard the 999 call made 15 minutes after the attack on Mr Green at his home in Ambleside in Oswestry where he lived with his cat, Harry.

His voice breaking with emotion, Mr Green said: "I have been broken into and quite severely beaten by two men who have run off.

"I have been pretty well mashed up. They hit me and put a lock on me, a wrestling lock, they were sitting on top of me."

Mr Green, who referred to himself as Charlie, said that despite his injuries he did not particularly want an ambulance and he told police that he hadn't given the men his bank card.

Miss Gould said the pensioner suffered a broken pelvis, bleeding to the brain and cuts and bruises in the attack.

He died in hospital in June 2, last year.

She said that when questioned by police, both men said they had been inside Mr Green's bungalow but both blamed each other for the assault on the pensioner.

She said that a footprint at the bungalow and a fingerprint belonged to Keeble. She said a further footprint had proved to be a size nine shoe, Marston's size.

Miss Gould said: "We say they are both responsible for the injuries that we say led to Mr Green's death."

The trial continues.