Court hears tragic 999 call made by pensioner

A tragic 999 call from an 87-year-old man who died after being beaten up by burglars at his home was played at the manslaughter trial of Stafford man.

Victim Charles Green told the operator:?"I've been pretty well mashed up." Peter Marston, 24, of Moorfields, Stafford, and Danny Keeble, 26, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter and assault with intent to rob.

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

The 999 call was made 15 minutes after the attack on Mr Green at his home in Ambleside, 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." Mr Green, who referred to himself as Charlie, said that despite his injuries he did not particularly want an ambulance.

Miss Debi Gould, prosecuting, 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, exactly a month after the raid.

Miss Gould said both men told police they had been inside the bungalow but blamed each other. Miss Gould said: "We say they are both responsible for the injuries that we say led to Mr Green's death." The trial continues.