A TEENAGER attacked a pensioner with a mallet and a knife after a burglary went wrong, a jury was told.
The first day of a trial of a 16-year-old who is accused of murder heard George Thornley, 68, was left lying in a pool of blood at his home on Meadow Close, Clifton, near Kirkham.
It is alleged the teenager, who has admitted manslaughter but denie
s murder, broke into the house and hit the pensioner on the head with a mallet before stabbing him in the neck.
The youth cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Paul Reid QC, prosecuting, told the court Mr Thornley was attacked on December 1, but the did not die until December 21.
"The prosecution suggest the circumstances of his death point to his surprising a burglar at his home," he said.
"There was a struggle during which Mr Thornley was struck a number of blows about the head and body with a mallet and sustained a wound to the neck caused by a knife.
"He was left unconscious or semi-conscious lying in a pool of blood in his own kitchen.
"He was not found until the next day when friends, worried about his not having turned up to a fishing competition, visited his house and found him on the floor.
"The prosecution say the defendant was the burglar and Mr Thornley's attacker."
Paramedics were called and took the pensioner to hospital.
He had sustained injuries to his head, hands and blood was coming from his ear as well as suffering five broken fingers.
Mr Thornley died 21 days later after contracting pneumonia and suffering a pulmonary embolism while in hospital.
A post mortem revealed the head injuries were unlikely on their own to result in death.
But the prosecution said he would not have died if he had not been the victim of the assault.
In the meantime a police investigation had been launched and the 16-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Matching DNA profiles were found on the youth's trainers, a mallet found in nearby woodland and a knife in Mr Thornley's kitchen.
The spare key to the pensioner's Ford Focus was also found under a floorboard in the youth's bedroom.
He later claimed he found the key on the ground near garages.
The youth said he pressed the button and it activated the lights on Mr Thornley's car and when he went to return the key, found Mr Thornley on the floor.
He checked for a pulse but, as he had previous convictions for burglary and assault, he decided against phoning for an ambulance and ran away.
(Proceeding)
